The Bombay High Court on Friday stayed the arrest of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. The court gave this order when Kamra filed a petition to quash the FIR registered against him for using the word ‘traitor’ against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. However, the court has allowed the police to continue investigating the case.

Hearing on the petition to cancel the FIR

The Bombay High Court division bench, comprising Justice Sarang Kotwal and S.M. Modak, has accepted Kunal Kamra’s petition. In this petition, Kamra had demanded the cancellation of the FIR, which was registered against him at Khar Police Station in Mumbai. This FIR was registered for Kamra calling Shinde a ‘traitor’.

Interim relief: stay of arrest

While hearing the petition, the court granted Kamra relief from arrest. The division bench said, “Kunal Kamra will not be arrested while the petition is pending. However, the police investigation can continue.” The court also made it clear that if the police files a chargesheet in this case, the concerned court will not proceed further.

Permission to go to Chennai for questioning

The court also directed that if Mumbai Police has to record Kamra’s statement, it should be done in Chennai, where Kamra is currently staying. The police will have to question Kamra only after giving him a notice first. Kamra said in his petition that he is a resident of Tamil Nadu and he is getting death threats if he goes to Maharashtra, so he will be available for questioning in Chennai only.

What was in Kamara’s petition?

Kamra said in his petition that even if the allegations are considered true, they do not fall in the category of any crime. He had requested the court not to take any harsh action against him, which includes arrest, seizure of electronic devices or investigation of his financial records.

Shivsena workers attacked

It is worth noting that this controversy started when Kunal Kamra called Shinde a ‘traitor’ during a comedy show in Mumbai. On this, the workers of Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction vandalized the studio where Kamra’s performance was recorded.