The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition by Shiv Sena MLA Kiran Samant, which sought action against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly posting contemptuous content against the judiciary for personal profit. The court questioned the “selective targeting” of Kamra, highlighting that many individuals criticize the judiciary but only Kamra was impleaded. The petition accused Kamra of exploiting free speech to commercialize derogatory content, citing his past social media posts and comedy shows. However, the division bench, comprising Justices Alok Aradhe and MS Karnik, noted that legal frameworks like the IT Act and intermediary guidelines provide mechanisms to address such grievances.

They advised Samant to approach the Ministry of IT or the nodal officer for content blocking. The court emphasized that, as a lawmaker, Samant had the authority to pursue appropriate channels, and dismissed the plea, granting him liberty to seek information on government actions under IT rules instead.