Shinde 'gaddar' row: Kunal Kamra moves Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail

Comedian Kunal Kamra

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Madras High Court seeking a transit anticipatory bail, according to Livelaw.

Numerous FIRs have been filed against the stand-up comedian for his alleged remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Mumbai Police recently sent Kunal Kamra a second summons for his alleged comments on Shinde.

In a show shot at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar recently, Kamra had made some comments on Eknath Shinde - without naming him - through a satirical version of the song 'Bholi si surat' from the 1997 blockbuster 'Dil To Pagal Hai'. The satirical song also had a mention of 'gaddar'.

While ending his show, the comedian had also shown a copy of the Constitution to the audience and said, "For all of the people who will not like this show, I have something for you... This is the Constitution of India and this is what allows me to do what I do."

A huge political row erupted over the 'gaddar' mention. Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Habitat Comedy Club on Sunday and a case was filed against him. Kunal Kamra said he would cooperate with the police but would not apologise for his remarks.

Responding to Kamra's remarks, Eknath Shinde repeated the allegation that its use by Kunal Kamra in a satirical song about him was part of a 'supari' (contract) given to the comedian.

He alleged that while the Uddhav faction of the Sena and others in the opposition in Maharashtra are talking about the Constitution and freedom of speech now, there have been several instances in the past when they have acted against people who criticised them.

"It has been decided by the people that who is a 'gaddar' and who is a 'khuddar' and one cannot tell one's lineage by looking in the mirror," he said, in an indirect dig at the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction.