The Kolhapur court on Friday extended the police custody of former journalist Prashant Koratkar till March 30, in connection with his controversial remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji Maharaj.

Koratkar was arrested earlier this week by Maharashtra police from Telangana after a phone conversation surfaced online in which he allegedly made derogatory comments and issued threats.

The case stems from a telephonic exchange between Koratkar and Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. The conversation, which Sawant later shared on social media, sparked widespread public outrage. Koratkar has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between groups.

During his appearance in Kolhapur court on Friday, tensions flared as a lawyer verbally abused him while he was being escorted out of the court complex. However, police confirmed that no physical altercation took place.

Koratkar had earlier been granted interim protection from arrest until March 1 by Additional Sessions Judge D.V. Kashyap. However, following the interim relief, Kolhapur police moved the Bombay High Court seeking cancellation of the order. The Bombay HC directed the local sessions court to examine the matter.

Subsequently, on March 18, Judge D.V. Kashyap rejected Koratkar’s anticipatory bail plea, leading to his arrest.

The defence argued in court that Koratkar is the sole earning member of his family, and prolonged detention would cause undue hardship. However, the court upheld the prosecution’s request for extended remand to continue investigations.

A fresh controversy erupted in the Delhi Assembly on Friday after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta referred to Delhi police personnel as “thulla” during a speech, drawing sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The opposition party accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming its leaders had previously condemned similar language used by others.

During a discussion in the Assembly, Gupta narrated an incident about a theft at a ration shop, criticizing police response time. “The police arrived late, just like Punjab’s police. Do thulle (two cops) stood here, two there, surrounding the area,” she said. The term “thulla,” considered a derogatory slang for police in North India, immediately drew attention.

AAP swiftly shared a video clip of the remarks on social media, questioning the lack of backlash. “BJP’s CM called policemen ‘thulla’ today, yet the Speaker didn’t object. Had another leader said this, the BJP would have created a nationwide uproar,” the party stated.

AAP leaders highlighted the contrast in reactions, recalling when Delhi’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal faced criticism for using the same term in 2023. “Back then, the BJP demanded apologies and filed cases. Today, silence,” said AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.

He also accused the BJP government of supporting corruption and those involved in it. “Ongoing corruption cases against officials were being addressed in the committees and courts of the Delhi Assembly, but the BJP government halted those proceedings.”

Additionally, while there were cases against the Chief Secretary and several officials regarding the cessation of pensions for elderly individuals and widows in Delhi, the BJP government chose to terminate those cases, he said.

Earlier in the day, former Delhi CM Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of failing to deliver on welfare promises. “PM Modi pledged ₹2,500 for Delhi’s women by March 8. When we questioned this in the Assembly, AAP MLAs were expelled,” she told reporters. Atishi also mocked the BJP’s focus on renaming areas like Mustafabad instead of addressing economic concerns.

The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who faces potential arrest over jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance in Mumbai.

Kamra, 36, had sought relief from the court, stating that he relocated from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu in 2021 and has since been a resident of the state. His petition expressed apprehension about being arrested by the Mumbai Police, which had summoned him twice in connection with the case.

The controversy arose after Kamra’s show at Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed a satirical song parodying Shinde. The act drew sharp criticism from Shiv Sena supporters, leading to violent protests. A group of party workers vandalized the comedy club and the adjoining hotel, prompting police action.

Following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar Police registered a case against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory statements against the deputy CM. Mumbai Police issued a second summons, directing the comedian to appear before them on March 31.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested 12 Shiv Sainiks, including leader Rahool Kanal, for the destruction of property at the venue.

Kamra, known for his sharp political satire, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, lashing out at mainstream media. He wrote: “The mainstream media at this point is nothing but a miscommunication arm of the ruling party. They are vultures who report on issues that don’t matter to the people of this country. If they all shut shop from tomorrow till eternity, they will be doing a favor to the country, its people & their own children.”

The Madras High Court’s decision to grant interim bail provides temporary protection to Kamra from arrest, allowing the legal process to proceed without immediate detention. The case has reignited debates on free speech, political satire, and the limits of comedy in India, where comedians frequently face legal challenges for their content.

This incident is not Kamra’s first brush with controversy—his past remarks on politicians and media figures have often sparked outrage.