The Mumbai Police visited Kunal Kamra’s home, where he lives with his parents, with a summons and asked the stand-up comedian to appear before the police. Sources say the police officials are probing whether Kunal Kamra mocked Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde in lieu of money or if there was any conspiracy involved.
Kamra is facing multiple charges, including defamation, and others, and the police asked him to appear before them at 11 am on March 25. Sources in Mumbai police said they would probe whether he was paid for reading the lines or someone else had written that for him. The police would also examine Kamra’s phone during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, “Kunal Kamra has been given money to make such statements to divert people’s attention away from Disha Salian’s case. Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are left with no workers, which is why they are putting forward people like Kunal Kamra. He will face the reaction as Shiv Sena is a party of reactions. We are Shiv Sainiks, and if someone talks rubbish about our leader, we will not tolerate that. We are ready to face all the consequences, but Kunal Kamra cannot roam freely in Maharashtra and India.”
The development after Kunal Kamra allegedly made disparaging remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in his latest standup comedy special.
Following this, the Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Mumbai venue after Kamra’s remarks about Eknath Shinde on Sunday.
Meanwhile, standup artiste Kunal Kamra released a statement on his official social media handle and stated that he would not “apologise” for his act.
Reacting to the ongoing tussle due to his remarks about Eknath Shinde in his latest YouTube video, Kamra stated that an entertainment venue is merely a platform and is not “responsible” for his comedy.
“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. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served,” Kamra’s statement read.
The standup artiste emphasised that he is ‘willing’ to cooperate with police officials and authorities for any lawful actions taken against him. However, he also questioned whether ‘the law will be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke.’
“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? And against the unelected members of the BMC, who have arrived today at Habitat, without prior notice, and tore the place down with hammers? Perhaps for my next venue, I will opt for Elphinstone Bridge or any other structure in Mumbai that’s in need of speedy demolition,” the statement added.
