- Tuesday, March 25, 2025
The stand-up comedian has been asked to appear before the Khar police here in connection with the case registered against him
By: India Weekly
THE MUMBAI police have issued a notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a case for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said on Tuesday (25).
Kamra has been asked to appear before the Khar police here in connection with the case registered against him, an official said.
“We have issued an initial notice to Kamra as a probe has been started into the case against him,” the official said without giving more details.
The 36-year-old stand-up comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shiv Sena leader Shinde’s political career in his show.
Kamra had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai,” apparently referring to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.
On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra’s show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.
Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde.
The police have also registered a case against 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalising the Habitat studio in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra’s show was filmed, and a hotel where the studio is located.
On Monday (24), the police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A local court granted them bail the same day.
Will not apologise: Kamra
The stand-up comedian has said he will not apologise for his controversial comments and criticised the vandalism of the venue.
In a lengthy statement on X late Monday night, a defiant Kamra said those busy leaking his number on social media or calling him incessantly should know that it all goes to his voicemail where they will be subjected to “the very song” that they hate.
“I will not apologise… I don’t fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down,” Kamra wrote and added that his statement was exactly what “Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM)”.
When the clips from his comedy show went viral, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis saying Kamra should apologise for his “low level comedy”, while opposition leader Uddhav Thackeray saying there was nothing wrong in what the comedian said.
Congress and CPI (M) also came out in Kamra’s support.
Kamra said the vandalism of the venue was “senseless” and equated it to someone overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because they didn’t like butter chicken they were served.
“To the Mob That Decided That Habitat Should Not Stand: An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party.”
The comedian also spoke about his right to freedom of speech and expression while calling out “politicians threatening to teach him a lesson”.
“Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system. However, I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me.
“But will the law be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke?”
Mumbai’s civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation visited the ransacked venue and said they had razed a temporary structure in the open space of the hotel, according to officials.
Kamra criticised the BMC for tearing the place down without prior notice.
The comedian said for his next show, he would perhaps opt for “Elphinstone bridge, or any other structure in Mumbai” in need of speedy demolition.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is preparing to dismantle the 125-year-old Elphinstone Bridge and build a new double-decker bridge across the Central and Western railway lines.
Kamra taken ‘supari’: Shinde
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has likened comedian Kunal Kamra’s jibe at him to taking “supari” (contract) to speak against someone, and said a decorum should be maintained while taking jibes, otherwise the action causes a reaction.
Freedom of speech is there, but there should be a limit, Shinde said on Monday reacting to Kamra’s comments.
“Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking ‘supari’ (contract) to speak against someone,” Shinde said at a BBC Marathi event.
On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio where Kamra had performed and made those remarks, Shinde said the other person should also maintain a certain level.
“Otherwise, action causes reaction,” he said.
“This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the prime minister, (journalist) Arnab Goswami and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech; this is working for someone,” Shinde said. (PTI)
