Chennai: Stand up comedian Kunal Kamra, wanted by the Mumbai police in an alleged case of defaming Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was on Monday granted extended interim protection from arrest until April 17 by the Madras High Court. The FIR lodged against him in Khar Police Station, Mumbai, alleged he made slanderous comments against Shinde in his latest comedy show ‘Naya Bharat.’ His studio was later attacked by Shinde’s supporters.
Justice Sunder Mohan extended the interim protection after Kamra’s counsel informed that he had served private notice on the Khar police as directed by the court on March 28, while granting interim anticipatory bail. The judge asked the court Registry to ascertain if the court notice too had been served and list the case for April 17.
Kamra’s counsel said after the court granted the relief last month, the Khar police had booked three more cases against him, besides summoning spectators of his show for inquiry. They also disturbed his elderly parents at their Mumbai house, while he was staying in Villupuram in rural Tamil Nadu since 2021.
The judge, did not go into these issues, and said the interim relief was offered to Kamra to enable to him approach the Bombay High Court and apply for regular anticipatory bail. The counsel said they have also moved the Bombay High Court.
