India probes comedian for defamation over jokes about Modi ally, sparking free speech debate
A comedian popular for his biting political humour is being investigated for possible defamation over jokes made about an Indian state leader who is an ally of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi , in yet another case raising questions over freedom of speech in the country.
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Police in the western city of Mumbai opened the investigation on Monday against Kunal Kamra over a comedy skit referring to Eknath Shinde, the second-highest elected leader of Maharashtra state, following a complaint filed by a politician from Shinde's Shiv Sena party.
Kamra had made the remarks in a comedy skit, but it was unclear when the performance took place.
A video clip of the skit, Kamra posted on
Instagram on Sunday, showed him taunting Shinde in a parody song. Kamra's use of the term 'traitor' particularly triggered Shiv Sena party workers, and on Sunday they ransacked the studio where he had performed the skit.
Gabon's Foreign Minister, Michael Moussa-Adamo (left), Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar (centre), and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attend a UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in Mumbai in October 2022. Photo: AP
Police are also investigating the vandalism.
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