The Mumbai police said Tuesday they have summoned Kunal Kamra for questioning in a case registered against him in connection with his statement against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
His recent stand-up special, Naya Bharat, triggered a hate campaign by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, leading to threatening speeches against him, vandalism, the closure of a prominent comedy venue in Mumbai, and legal action.
Nearly three dozen supporters of the Shiv Sena ransacked The Habitat studio, at the Unicontinental hotel in Khar where Kamra recorded the show, early Sunday.
Kamra, who lives in Puducherry, has been asked to remain present before the Khar police by 11 am Tuesday.
The comedian was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 353(1)(b), 353(2) (statements conducing to public mischief), and 356(2) (defamation). The MIDC Police Station lodged the First Information Report against Kamra as a Zero FIR based on a complaint lodged by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Later, they transferred the Zero FIR to Khar Police Station.
Statement by Kunal Kamra
Meanwhile, in a statement on his social media accounts, Kamra said he is “willing to co-operate 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,” Kamra said in the statement.
“To those who are busy leaking my number or calling me incessantly: I am sure you’ve realised by now that all unknown calls go to my voicemail, where you will be subjected to the very song that you hate. To the media faithfully reporting this circus: Remember that press freedom in India ranks at 159.”
He added, “I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don’t fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down.”
