A Delhi court has issued a notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on a plea seeking the registration of an FIR against him for a satirical video allegedly mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as per a report by Bar and Bench.
The order was passed by the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vandana of the Rohini Court on January 20, 2026. During the hearing of a criminal revision petition submitted by Shiv Sena’s Delhi chief, Sandeep Chaudhary. The petition challenges an earlier magistrate’s decision that declined to order the police to lodge a case against Kamra.
“Let notice be issued to the respondent on filing of PF/RC” the court stated, as quoted by Bar and Bench. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on March 20.
Why did the court issue a notice against Kunal Kamra?
The notice has been issued after Chaudhary’s plea accusing Kamra, through his satirical video with the title “Naya Bharat,” of using derogatory language against Eknath Shinde and trying to create hatred between political groups. The plea raised objections to terms such as “gaddar (traitor),” Fadnavis ki godi (Fadnavis’s lap), and “dalbadlu (turncoat).” These terms were allegedly used in the video.
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The revision video was registered after a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC) had earlier denied Chaudhary’s request under Section 175 (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
What did the magistrate say while refusing the FIR plea?
In his September 15, 2025 order, JMFC Himanshu Sehloth mentioned that Kamra’s content comes under the realm of satire and political parody. It was also announced that it did not amount to a cognisable offence even if the language offended some viewers.
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“This court is not blind to discomfort satire can cause…But the remedy for the bad speech is not the policeman’s knock, it is better speech,” the magistrate stated, as quoted by Bar and Bench. He further added that public leaders must develop a thicker skin. Advocate Namit Saxena has filed Chaudhary’s case.
What happened during last year’s controversy?
During the controversy in March last year, over jokes about Shinde, Shiv Sena leaders demanded the arrest of Kamra. Some party workers also threatened that he would be forced to flee India. The anger heightened after the remarks, and the venue where Kamra performed was also vandalised. |
