Kunal Kamra moves Bombay High Court against FIR in ‘traitor’ jibe case

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking to quash an FIR lodged against him by the city police for allegedly passing a "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

His counsel Navroz Seervai mentioned the petition before a bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modak on Monday, seeking urgent hearing.

Seervai informed the bench that Kamra has got interim relief from the Madras High Court till Monday, but despite that the Mumbai police keep issuing him summons to appear before them.

The bench said it would hear the plea on Tuesday.

Kamra, in his plea filed on April 5, claimed the complaints against him violated his fundamental rights of the freedom of speech and expression, right to practise any profession and business and right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution.

Last month, the comedian got interim transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court till April 7 in the case against him. He is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.

The hearing of this petition in the Madras High Court is expected on Monday.

The comedian has failed to appear before the Mumbai police for questioning despite three summons issued to him.