By Peerzada Masarat Shah
Mumbai, Mar 24: The Mumbai police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a show, an official confirmed on Monday.
The controversy erupted after a video of Kamra’s performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar went viral. In the video, Kamra reportedly mocked Shinde, using a modified version of a Hindi song to take a dig at him. The show, which also included satire on the ruling Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), sparked outrage among Shiv Sena members.
On Sunday night, angry Shiv Sena workers vandalized the Habitat Comedy Club and the hotel premises where it is located. The incident took place at Hotel Unicontinental in Khar. In response, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed a police complaint against Kamra.
Based on the complaint, the police booked Kamra under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and Section 356(2) (defamation). Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske issued a stern warning to Kamra, stating that the comedian would be “chased throughout the country” and “forced to flee India.” He also accused Kamra of accepting money from Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to target Shinde.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray condemned the vandalism, calling it a “cowardly act.” In a social media post, he criticized Shinde’s faction, suggesting that their reaction to a mere comedy act revealed their insecurity.
The incident has reignited debates on freedom of expression, political intolerance, and the boundaries of satire in India’s comedy scene. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes are on how this controversy will impact the state’s political landscape.