Comedian Kunal Kamra is no stranger to controversy, often making headlines for his outspoken political satire. From criticizing Chief Justices of India to questioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and facing contempt of court charges, his remarks have sparked legal battles and public outrage. His fearless approach to humor has earned him both support and criticism. Here’s a look at his top 10 most talked-about controversies.
Kunal Kamra is one of India’s most well-known and controversial stand-up comedians, recognized for his sharp political mockery hat often targets the government and various political figures. His humor has gathered a significant following, but he also makes comments that can make audiences uncomfortable.
Recently, he stirred controversy with remarks directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, once again placing him in the spotlight.
As Kamra faces backlash for his latest comments, it’s worth noting some of his previous controversies.
In 2017, Kamra launched the political comedy podcast “Shut Up Ya Kunal” alongside Ramit Verma. The show features politicians and activists from diverse ideological backgrounds discussing national issues in a humorous and satirical way. While the podcast has gained popularity, Kamra has been involved in numerous other controversies.
Contempt of Court Case
The Supreme Court initiated contempt proceedings against Kamra following a series of tweets criticizing the judiciary after the court granted bail to journalist Arnab Goswami. He mocked former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, posting on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after Goswami’s release on interim bail in a case related to abetment of suicide.
In one tweet, he labeled the Supreme Court as the “Supreme Joke of the country” and shared a morphed image depicting the Supreme Court in saffron with a BJP flag.
In December 2020, the Supreme Court issued a show-cause notice to Kamra, asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for contempt. Kamra publicly stated that he would not apologize for his tweets and defended his right to free speech in his response to the court, refusing to retract his statements.
‘Brahmin-Baniya’ Remark on Supreme Court
In May 2020, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court against Kamra for describing the Supreme Court as a “Brahmin-Baniya” affair during his show “Be Like.”
This petition was submitted as an intervention in an existing contempt case against him. Attorney General KK Venugopal had approved contempt proceedings against Kamra for allegedly disparaging the judiciary and its judges through his social media posts.
Airport Incident
Kunal Kamra confronted journalist Arnab Goswami during a flight, which resulted in a six-month ban from major airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, and SpiceJet. Although this incident did not lead to formal legal action, it sparked considerable discussion.
During a January 2020 trip from Mumbai to Lucknow, Kamra heckled Goswami and later shared a video clip of the encounter on Twitter. He described having a “monologue” with Goswami about his journalism, calling him a “coward” and labeling him mentally unstable. He concluded the tweet with the phrase “f*** Arnab.”
Attacks on PM Narendra Modi Over COVID
In 2021, Kamra made serious allegations regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s management of the COVID-19 crisis in an opinion video. He accused PM Modi of prioritizing political vanity over common sense, which he claimed contributed to a devastating restoration of coronavirus infections.
Kamra asserted that had the Prime Minister and other political leaders acted swiftly and effectively, many lives and much heartache could have been avoided.
Child’s ‘Morphed’ Video Row
In May 2020, Kamra faced backlash for sharing an edited video of a seven-year-old boy singing for PM Modi during the Prime Minister’s visit to Germany. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) sought action against Kamra for posting a “doctored” video.
The NCPCR also demanded the immediate removal of the clip.
Responding to the criticism, Kamra stated that the video was in the public domain and originally shared by a news organization.
He remarked,
“The joke is not on your son; while you enjoy your son singing for his motherland to the most popular son, there are songs he should listen to from the people of his country as well.”
In another post, he referred to the NCPCR’s demand for action as a reaction to a “meme.”
‘Kashmir Files’ Controversy
In 2022, lawyer Chandni Preeti Vijaykumar Shah wrote to Attorney General KK Venugopal, requesting the initiation of criminal proceedings against Kamra under the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.
She claimed that Kamra insulted India’s national emblem by using it in a morphed certificate that mocked the suffering of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide and ridiculed the film ‘The Kashmir Files’.
In the same month, two other lawyers, Ashutosh Dubey and Vineet Jindal, also wrote to Venugopal seeking permission to start contempt proceedings against Kamra for allegedly vilifying and defaming the Indian judiciary in a recent comedy video.
Legal Notice from VHP Regarding Alleged Insults to Hindu Deities
Kunal Kamra’s comedy show in Gurugram canceled by the hosting club after right-wing organizations threatened protests over his jokes, which they claimed insulted Hindu gods. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) issued a legal notice to Mr. Kamra, accusing him of disrespecting Hindu deities in his performances. They demanded an apology and warned of potential legal action.
In September 2022, Mr. Kamra challenged the VHP to denounce Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, to demonstrate that the organization is genuinely pro-Hindu and anti-terrorism. He also requested evidence that he had disrespected Hinduism.
Allegations of Harassment Against Women Comedians
In a widely circulated blog post from 2020, Anubha Sinha alleged that Kunal Kamra and Utsav Chakraborty, who has faced #MeToo accusations, created fake accounts on X to harass female comedians. Ms. Sinha claimed she overheard Mr. Kamra discussing their plans to use these accounts for harassment.
She decided to come forward after Mr. Kamra heckled the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV on an Indigo flight.
Kamra’s Challenge to IT Rules
In April 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology announced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 (IT Rules 2023).
These rules require social media platforms to remove any news related to the “business of the central government” that is deemed “fake, false, or misleading” by a newly established fact-checking unit.
Mr. Kamra has challenged these rules in the Bombay High Court, arguing that the creation of a fact-checking unit contradicts Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which provides safe harbor to social media intermediaries for user-generated content. The Supreme Court will determine whether a stay on the government’s fact-check unit under the IT Rules, 2023, can be granted.
Criticism of the Election Commission and EVMs
Mr. Kamra has openly mocked the Election Commission and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in various posts and videos, prompting complaints from political groups, though no formal legal action has been reported.