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A team of Mumbai Police on Monday arrived at the residence of comedian Kunal Kamra in Dadar.
Comedian Kunal Kamra | ANI Image
Comedian Kunal Kamra row: A team of Mumbai Police on Monday arrived at the residence of comedian Kunal Kamra in Dadar amid a row over his alleged controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Three separate cases have been filed against the stand-up comedian at Khar police station, with one complaint lodged by the Mayor of Jalgaon city and the other two by a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik, according to the Mumbai Police.
Sources told CNN-News18 that Mumbai Police have issued three summons to Karma so far, with the second one, issued on March 24. However, there has been no communication from him to the police.
On March 27, the Mumbai police again asked the comedian to appear on March 31 at the Khar Police Station for further questioning in the case. This was the third summon issued to Kamra as he failed to appear before the police in the first two summons.
The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra in connection with multiple FIRs filed against him. Justice Sunder Mohan approved the bail with conditions, effective until April 7.
Kamra had moved the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing numerous threats he had received following his recent satirical comments.
Kunal Kamra Row
Kamra stoked a row with his “gaddar” (traitor) joke allegedly aimed at Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. Several party leaders condemned his remarks, demanding an unconditional apology from him.
The controversy escalated into violence when Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shinde’s Shiv Sena, vandalised the Habitat comedy venue where the show was filmed.
Despite having multiple clashes with the BJP-led Centre in the past, the comedian has refused to apologise for his remark but has expressed willingness to cooperate with the police.
“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.