Kunal Kamra Moves Bombay High Court to Quash FIR Over ‘Traitor’ Remark

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him by Mumbai Police for allegedly calling Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “traitor” during a public performance.

Kamra’s legal representative, senior advocate Navroz Seervai, mentioned the petition before a bench comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and S M Modak on Monday, requesting an urgent hearing on the matter. The court has scheduled the hearing for April 8.

The FIR reportedly stems from Kamra’s satirical remarks made during a recent stand-up show, which allegedly targeted Shinde and his political realignment during the 2022 power shift in Maharashtra.

Kamra has argued that the FIR violates his fundamental right to free speech and amounts to an attempt to suppress political satire and artistic expression.

The case has sparked debate around the limits of comedy, political criticism, and freedom of expression in India, with many in the creative and legal communities closely watching the proceedings.