MUMBAI: As the controversy sparked by Kunal Kamra‘s remarks on Dy CM Eknath Shinde, without naming him, rocked Mumbai and Maharashtra Monday, Khar police said they will soon issue a notice to the stand-up comedian, who they said is in Pondicherry.
Khar police said they did not arrest him as the maximum punishment for sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita applied in the case – relating to statements creating public mischief and defamation — is less than seven years, in which case arrests are not shown immediately. Kamra will be called for questioning and his statement recorded, they said.
CM Devendra Fadnavis demanded Kamra apologise. “Anyone has the right to do stand-up comedy. But they should not use freedom of expression to do whatever they want. Kamra had no right to make low-level comments and insult Dy CM Shinde. We condemn this and will not tolerate it,” Fadnavis said. Wagle Estate police in Thane also registered a non-cognizable offence against Kamra on Monday.
DCP (zone IX) Dikshit Gedam said two offences have been registered with Khar police. “The first is against the comedian for derogatory comments. The second is against the people who ransacked the hotel. Further investigation is on.” The FIR against Kamra, lodged at MIDC police station in Andheri and subsequently transferred to Khar, alleged Kamra had mocked Shinde in his show. Sena MLA Murji Patel, who filed the FIR, stated, “The video showed Kamra using the word ‘gaddar’ to refer to the Maharashtra Deputy CM.” He demanded strict action against Kamra and an apology from him in two days, “else he will not be allowed to move freely in Mumbai.”
Earlier, Habitat had hosted controversial episodes of India’s Got Latent, after which several shows were cancelled. On its Instagram handle, the studio said, “We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. We have never been involved in the content performed by any artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are a proxy for the performer. We urge constructive conversations, not destruction, to address disagreements. We do not support hate or harm of any kind. Violence and destruction undermine the very spirit of art and dialogue.”
Meanwhile, among the 12 Sainiks arrested for vandalism was Rahool Kanal. The non-cognizable offence against Kamra in Thane was lodged by a Yuva Sena member.
