Overview
- Kamra shared his written deposition with the Maharashtra legislature’s privileges committee and posted it online, citing a Bal Thackeray cartoon of Indira Gandhi to argue that political satire has long been tolerated.
- He declined to issue an unconditional apology, calling it insincere and warning it would set a bad precedent for artists.
- The case stems from a breach-of-privilege notice over his parody about Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, filed after BJP MLC Pravin Darekar complained, and committee chair Prasad Lad said the decision will depend on Kamra’s response.
- Police also registered an FIR at Khar police station on a complaint by Shiv Sena legislator Murji Patel alleging defamatory remarks against the deputy chief minister.
- A privileges committee is an internal legislative body that can investigate and punish perceived insults to the House or its members, a power critics say can deter comedians and other citizens from satirizing political leaders.