Kunal Kamra’s Guide Sparks Debate: Satire or Not?

Kunal Kamra

According to reports, everybody in the crowd who watched the stand-up comedian’s performance received a notice to appear before the police. But a police officer refuted this.

On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra took aim at the criticism he has received for his previous show, which purportedly attacked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, by posting a harsh five-point tutorial on the X platform titled “How to Kill an Artist: A Step-by-Step Guide.”

“How to kill an Artist ‘democratically’,” Kamra said in an Instagram post, described what he said is a “playbook” that the ruling regime uses to stifle free speech.

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The 36-year-old comedian was met with massive backlash after performing a parody song targeting Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde during a stand-up show. Following the act, Shiv Sainiks vandalisedthe Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai, where Kamra had performed.

In addition, he is dealing with a number of police cases and hate speech from the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. After he did not show up for interrogation in relation to the investigation against him, Mumbai Police paid a visit to his home in the city on Monday.

“Going to an address where I haven’t lived for the last 10 years is a waste of your time & public resources (sic),” Kamra joked shortly after on X.
In the midst of the uproar, Kamra had already issued a thorough statement in which he clarified that ridiculing leaders was legal. “Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right,” remarked the politician.

In relation to the charges against him, Kamra was granted temporary anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court on Friday. Because he lives in Tamil Nadu and is afraid of being arrested by Mumbai police, he had petitioned the court for transit anticipatory bail.

His lawyer contended that the comedian did not use any identities in his January-shot act and that satire was protected as free speech. On March 23, the video for his performance was made public.

In the Kunal Kamra case, three FIRs were sent to the Mumbai police station Khar.