New Delhi, April 8 -- The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Mumbai police and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel on comedian Kunal Kamra's plea challenging an FIR lodged against him for allegedly passing a "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and S M Modak said it would hear Kamra's petition on April 16.

The comedian has failed to appear before the Mumbai police for questioning despite three summons issued to him.

Kamra's counsel told the court, "We are concerned in a quashing like this. In light of what happened in Madras HC...My client has thrice offered to give a statement over video conferencing in the light of danger he faces. It does seem the authorities...