Proceedings are without jurisdiction: Kunal Kamra tells Maharashtra legislature’s privilege committee

Kunal Kamra argues Maharashtra legislature's proceedings against him lack jurisdiction, defending freedom of speech and political satire.

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Thursday (April 9, 2026) told the Maharashtra legislature’s privileges committee that the proceedings of the committee — hearing a breach of privilege motion against him — were without jurisdiction.

In a written reply submitted to the committee (a copy of which is with The Hindu), Mr. Kamra said that for a performance to be qualified for breach of privilege, it should either relate to the conduct of the member in his capacity as a member of the House, or must be based upon the actual transaction of the business of the House, or must cause an actual impediment to the functioning of the House.

The case pertains to the stand-up comedian making a joke during a show on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in 2025, after which Shiv Sena workers vandalised the hotel in Mumbai where the show was filmed.

Quoting The Hindu’s interview of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mr. Kamra pointed out in his reply, “Mr. Eknath Shinde [who was the primary subject of the parody in question] has in an interview to the national daily The Hindu stated that his work has continued unaffected by my performance.”

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Mr. Kamra, taking a dig at Mr. Shinde, said that defending Balasaheb Thackeray’s political legacy would extend to protecting the freedom of cartoonists and satirists. “Balasaheb Thackeray, in a career as a political cartoonist that spanned several decades and political regimes, has lampooned and ridiculed many figures of authority, including sitting Prime Ministers [and never faced action for breach of privilege]. Political satire has been the foundation of the very political ideology that Mr. Shinde claims to be the true successor of,” he said.