Maharashtra Legislative Council to issue showcause notice to Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare

The Privileges Committee of the Maharashtra Legislative Council has decided to issue a showcause notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare. The 11-member Privileges Committee has approved the proposal with a full majority, Prasad Lad, BJP MLC and the chairperson of the committee, told The Hindu on Monday (July 7, 2025).

“I moved the proposal on Friday. It has been accepted by everyone. It has now gone for legal opinion. Soon thereafter, the show cause notice will be sent to both of them by the police,” he said.

As per the committee, the grounds of the showcause notice are – the insult of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, comedy insulting the State of Maharashtra, and the usage of expressions insulting the State Legislature. “Sushama Andhare issued comments in support of Kunal Kamra and made similar comments,” Mr. Lad said.

The proposal has now been sent to the judicial department of the Privileges Committee. It is expected to give its opinion soon. The show cause notice will be issued this week, Mr. Lad said.

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‘Courts have no say’

Once the showcause notice is issued, the respondent is asked to give a written reply within 15 days. Failure to do so leads to a second showcause notice. In case the respondent does not respond to three notices, the committee can ask the police to arrest them, Mr. Lad said. Thereafter, their statement is recorded in front of the committee. “The respondent can choose to apologise, or be represented by a lawyer if we give them the permission to, or put forth their side by themselves. Whatever decision the committee takes thereafter, is the final decision. Even the courts have no jurisdiction in the matter,” he said.

The motion was proposed against Mr. Kamra for his stand-up comedy in March 2025, in which he sang a parody song about Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sena workers had thereafter ransacked the comedy club where the show was performed. An FIR has already been filed against the comedian.