Recording this submission, the judge stated that since the Mumbai High Court had granted interim relief, it was no longer necessary to proceed with the case in Tamil Nadu, and accordingly ordered the closure of the case.
Published Apr 17, 2025 | 4:23 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 17, 2025 | 4:23 PM
Standup comedian and political satirist Kunal Kamra is being targeted for a joke referring to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor) in his latest stand-up video, "Naya Bharat," on YouTube.
Synopsis: The Madras High Court closed Kunal Kamra’s transit anticipatory bail plea after the Bombay High Court granted him interim protection from arrest in a case over his criticism of Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Kamra, fearing arrest while traveling from Tamil Nadu, had sought bail. The Bombay HC has reserved its verdict and barred arrest until then.
Madras High Court on Thursday, 17 April, closed Kunal Kamra’s transit anticipatory bail petition after the Mumbai High Court granted him interim relief in the case filed against him for criticizing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Comedian Kunal Kamra recently uploaded a video, shot in Maharastra, on his YouTube channel in which he criticized Eknath Shinde for breaking the Shiv Sena and joining hands with the BJP to become Chief Minister. Following this, the Mumbai Police registered a case against Kamra.
In response, he filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail (a request for pre-arrest bail filed in a different state from where the case was registered). In his petition, Kamra stated that he resides in Villupuram and feared arrest if he travelled to Mumbai, hence he requested anticipatory bail.
The Madras High Court judge who heard the case initially granted interim bail to Kamra till 17 April. The case then came up again on Thursday, before Justice Sundar Mohan.
At that time, Kunal Kamra’s lawyer, V Suresh, informed the court that a petition to quash the case had been heard in the Mumbai High Court on Wednesday, 16 April, and the verdict had been reserved. He also said that the Mumbai High Court had issued an order that Kamra should not be arrested until the verdict is delivered.
Recording this submission, the judge stated that since the Mumbai High Court had granted interim relief, it was no longer necessary to proceed with the case in Tamil Nadu, and accordingly ordered the closure of the case.
According to Livelaw, a division bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Shriram Modak of the Bombay High Court in its order dictated, “Arguments are concluded. Reserved for orders. In the meantime, as agreed by Shri Venegaonkar, the learned Public Prosecutor that summons were issued under Section 35(3) BNSS which specifically refers to notice where arrest of person is not required, in that background, the questioning of arresting applicant in this particular case does not arise. Matter reserved for orders till then petitioner shall not be arrested.”
