Kunal Kamra, Eknath Shinde Controversy Highlights: Kunal Kamra’s lawyer asked for 7 days’ time, says Mumbai Police

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Speaking on the issue, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar told ANI, “Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded on this issue on behalf of the government... Our CM has said that action will be taken as per the law.”

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Comedian Kunal Kamra received criticism for calling Eknath Shinde a "traitor" (Gaddar) during his performance of ‘Naya Bharat’ in Mumbai's Habitat studio. Following his remarks, Shiv Sena party leaders vandalised the Habitat premises.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: After being summoned, comedian Kunal Kamra's lawyer contacted Mumbai Police and asked for 7 days' time, reported ANI on Tuesday.

“Today Kunal was called by the police to record his statement, but he did not come. Further action will be taken after taking legal opinion”, said Mumbai Police

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: The comedian was referring to Eknath Shinde's 2022 split from Uddhav Thackeray to form a rival faction of Shiv Sena. Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to joke about the incident.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kamra claimed that his number has been leaked and added, “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.”

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske alleged on Tuesday that stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention from the Disha Salian death case, reported ANI.

The Shiv Sena MP also hit out at Shiv Sena Chief (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut, accusing them of taking the support of people like Kunal Kamra.

"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 told ANI.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal slammed the state government for attack on Mumbai's Habitat studio saying BJP-led Mahayuti government wants to turn Maharashtra into a "Taliban-like" state.

"The attackers belong to a ruling party. Do they not trust their own government, the Constitution, the law and home department? Why did they take law into their own hands? Why did they resort to this attack when Kamra did not name Shinde," Sapkal asked at a press conference on March 24.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar came in support of Kamra saying his decision not to apologise is right as he has not taken anyone's name.

"If anything is wrong, then they should go to the court. Vandalism and suppressing anyone's voice is not right. A government should be able to take criticism. If someone has done a comedy for laughter, then the government should have laughed it off... Kangana Ranaut said even more derogatory words about your leaders, then it was called freedom of speech... Kunal Kamra's decision not to apologise is right... He has not taken anyone's name... No one is respecting the law... Such a government cannot last long. One or the other day, people would be enraged, and the government would have to pay..." the Congress MLA told reporters.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Amid Kunal Kamra stood his ground and stubbornly refused to apologise for his jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Mumbai Police issued notice to the stand-up comedian, reported PTI.

Kamra has been asked to appear before the Khar police in Mumbai in connection with a case filed against him for defamation.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: After the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena targeted the 36-year-old over his jibe at the Maharashtra Deputy CM in a show filmed in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra won’t bow down before anyone.

“I know Kamra. We share the same DNA. He is a fighter,” Raut told reporters. “He won’t apologise. If you have to act against him, you have to take recourse to lawful steps,” he said.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kamra, whose video has garnered over 4.3 million views in just two days, in his statement on Monday night said, as PTI quoted: "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.

"Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though today's media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system."

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Ranaut condemned Kamra’s remarks and said, as PTI quoted, “You may be anyone but disrespecting anyone (is not good). You are disgracing someone in the name of comedy, you are disregarding what all he has done. Shinde ji used to drive an auto rickshaw a while ago. Today he has made it till here on his own. What are his (Kamra’s) credentials? Who are these people who haven’t done anything in life? If they can write, I’d say write literature or comedy scenes in films. Abusing in the name of comedy, mocking our scriptures in the name of comedy, making fun of people, mothers and sisters (is not right).”

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kunal Kamra shared a video on his Instagram account featuring the Habitat Centre vandalism incident, set to a parody of the song "Hum Honge Kaamyaab."

Watch here

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has slammed stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his remarks allegedly targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of violating the law and attempting to insult a leader.

"Kunal Kamra has spoken against the law. He has tried to insult a leader. He should not insult anyone. He should apologize. Legal action should be taken against him," Athawale said.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Tuesday weighed in on the controversy surrounding Kunal Kamra saying, "There was a comedy which became a tragedy."

His statement alludes to the escalating tensions over Kamra's alleged comments towards Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which have sparked vandalism by the youth wing of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers and a broader political debate.
He also said such controversies are created to divert attention from real issues.

Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar came in support of Kamra saying his decision not to apologise is right as he has not taken anyone's name.

"If anything is wrong, then they should go to the court. Vandalism and suppressing anyone's voice is not right. A government should be able to take criticism. If someone has done a comedy for laughter, then the government should have laughed it off... Kangana Ranaut said even more derogatory words about your leaders, then it was called freedom of speech... Kunal Kamra's decision not to apologise is right... He has not taken anyone's name... No one is respecting the law... Such a government cannot last long. One or the other day, people would be enraged, and the government would have to pay..." the Congress MLA told reporters.

The political row over Kunal Kamra comments on Eknath Shinde has heated up after Kangana slammed the comedian saying, ‘he should not have insulted Shinde in the name comendy’

Taking a sharp jibe at the actor, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MLA Rohit Pawar said freedom of speech needs to be upheld irrespective of ideologies and noted that the BJP has different yardsticks for when the party is in power and when they were in opposition.

Referring to a past incident, Pawar noted that leaders of the BJP who had defended Kangana Ranaut when she compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were now riled up over Kamra's comments on Eknath Shinde.

"When the opposition was in power, Kangana Ranaut (BJP MP) made a statement comparing Mumbai to PoK. At that time, Devendra Fadnavis had a very different reaction, terming the action against her unfair, despite it being an anti-national statement," Pawar said.

Defending Kamra's right to freedom of speech, the MLA said that unlike Kangana Ranaut who could be influenced by the BJP and says what the party wants her to say, Kamra "speaks in his own style."

"Kunal Kamra won't listen to us... he is speaking in his own style," Pawar said.

Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare on Tuesday criticized comedian Kunal Kamra for his recent remarks, demanding that Kamra apologize or face legal action.

Waghmare accused Kamra of insulting the Thackeray family and claimed that Kamra's statements were offensive to both Aaditya and Uddhav Thackeray.

"Aaditya Thackeray is asking why Kunal Kamra should apologize. He should see what he (Kunal Kamra) has spoken. Tomorrow, if anyone talks about Aaditya Thackeray's appearance, how they sold their grandfather's legacy and how Uddhav Thackeray sold his father for CM-ship, what will Aaditya and Uddhav Thackeray feel?" Waghmare said in a statement to ANI.

Actor Kangana Ranaut weighed in on the controversy sparked by comedian Kunal Kamra’s joke says you can't insult someone in the name of comedy.

She told the news agency ANI: "Aap koi bhi ho, kisi ka apmaan karna... ek insaan ke liye uski izzat hi sab kuch hai chahein aap Sarkar dekhiye ya satta dekhiye. Aap comedy ke naam par unki izzat uchal rahe hain. Unki upkirti kar rahe hain. Unke kaam ko disregard kar rahe hain. Shinde ji kabhi kisi zamane me rikshaw chalaya karte the. Aaj vo apne dum par itna aage aye hain. Ye kaun hai? Inke khud ke kya credentials hain? Kaun hai ye log jo khud zindagi me kar nahi paye. Main kehti hun ki agar vo kuch likh sakte hain toh sahitya me likhein. Kya ye literature me kuch likhte hain? Comedy ke naam par gaali galoch karna (sic).

Kunal Kamra refusal to apologise for his ‘gaddar’ comments for Eknath Shinde received storng reaction from Shiv Sena.

MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam stated, "He will be punished. If you are going to insult the Supreme Court, PM of India, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, it is not tolerable. You cannot behave like this in Maharashtra or India... We do enjoy comedy, but this is not the kind of comedy that will be tolerated in Maharashtra."

Kamra on Monday released a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would not "apologise" for his act.

Maharashtra Minister Gulab Raghunath Patil also expressed strong disapproval of Kamra's actions. Patil warned, "If he doesn't apologize, we will speak to him in our own style... Shiv Sena won't leave him... we won't tolerate this insult... if he doesn't apologize, he will come out, where will he hide?... Shiv Sena will show its real form."

On the summon against Kamra, the Mumbai Police said they have issued a notice in connection with a case for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Shinde

Police said, “Kamra has been asked to appear before the Khar police here in connection with the case registered against him”

"We have issued an initial notice to Kamra as a probe has been started into the case against him," the official said without giving more details.

On Kunal Kamra's remark, Deputy CM Shinde said, “Freedom of speech is there; we understand satire, but there should be a limit. This is like taking 'supari' (contract) to speak against someone.”

Kunal Kamra received huge support from influencer tribe as he released a statement saying he has no regret for his comments and won't apologise for it.

Lauding him, fellow stand up comedian said, ‘This is real 56 inch courage’

Actress Mini Mathur responded saying ‘guts’

Kunal Kamra has been summoned by Mumbai Police over the ‘gaddar’ remark on Eknath Shinde, reports cited

Kamra also claimed the he was threatened by Shiv Sena members and an audio clip of the same went viral.

Here is how the conversation between the unidentified Shiv Sena worker and Kunal Kamra played out:

Shiv Sena: Kya Video dala tune humarein saab k barein mein? (What video have you posted about our leader?)

Kunal Kamra: Kaunsa saab? (Which leader?)

Shiv Sena: Eknath Shinde Saab. Humare Mukhya Mantri, unke arein mein kya video dalaa hain? (Eknath Shinde. Our chief minister, what video have you posted about him?)

Kunal Kamra: Abhi to mukhya mantri kahan hain wo (How is he the chief minister now?)

Shiv Sena: Upmukhya mantri hain, unke barein mein kya video dalaa hain? (Deputy chief minister, what video have you posted about him?)

Kunal Kamra: Dekha na video? (Have you watched the video?)

Shiv Sena: Dekha hain. Hotel jaake dekh le. Hum logon ne kya haal kiya hain. Abhi tu jidhar milega , tera hi wahin haal hoga (Have watched it. You see what we have done to the studio. Now wherever we find you, you will face a similar fate)

Kunal Kamra: (distant chatter)

Shiv Sena: Samjha Kya? (Did you understand?)

Shiv Sena: Kidhar reheta hain tu? (Where do you reside?)

Kunal Kamra: Tamil Nadu

Shiv Sena: Tamil Nadu, teri m** k*. Tamil Nadu mein aake marega tere ben****(Abuses Kunal Kamra in Hindi. Says we will come and beat you up in Tamil Nadu)

Kunal Kamra: Aaja Tamil Nadu Ajaa (Come to Tamil Nadu)

Shiv Sena: Kidhar Aane ka? (Where should we come?)

Kunal Kamra: (Louder) Tamil Nadu

Amid the political row, the full length video of the controversial show goes viral

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal slammed the state government for attack on Mumbai's Habitat studio saying BJP-led Mahayuti government wants to turn Maharashtra into a "Taliban-like" state.

"The attackers belong to a ruling party. Do they not trust their own government, the Constitution, the law and home department? Why did they take law into their own hands? Why did they resort to this attack when Kamra did not name Shinde," Sapkal asked at a press conference on March 24.

On the political row over his comment, Kamra said,"Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though today's media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system."

The comedian also pointed at the media for its coverage on the incident, saying, “To the media faithfully reporting this circus: Remember that press freedom in India ranks at 159. 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.”

Kamra claimed that his number has been leaked and added, “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.”

On BMC officials demolishing parts of Habitat, Kamra said he is willingness to cooperate with the police and courts but also questioned the law and order in the city.

“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.”

In a recent statement , he said, “Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system.”

Taking a jibe Kunal Kamra, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that he should call Uddhav Thackeray a 'traitor' first who betrayed BJP.

"If he is an artist, he should not sing songs to criticise anyone. He should not get into such issues. It is not right to use such language. If he wants to call Eknath Shinde a traitor, he should first call Uddhav Thackeray a traitor because he has betrayed the BJP... If he wants to be a good artist, he should not sing such songs...", Ramdas Athawale said to ANI on Monday

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: “As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system,” said Kunal Kamra in his statement. Read here.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Several opposition leaders, including SP MP Jaya Bachchan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Congress's Nana Patole, have voiced their support for Kunal Kamra.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: In his latest statement, Kunal Kamra defiantly asserted that he would ‘not apologise’ to Eknath Shinde, and ‘nor would he hide under his bed,' because of the mob.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: The CPI(M) condemned targeting of Kunal Kamra and vandalism of Habitat studio, and added that it highlighted that “mob violence is the only law” for BJP-led alliance regimes.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: The comedian was referring to Eknath Shinde's 2022 split from Uddhav Thackeray to form a rival faction of Shiv Sena. Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to joke about the incident.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: The comedian has issued a statement, asserting that he will not apologise to Eknath Shinde for his ‘traitor’ (gaddar) remark.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kunal Kamra claimed that his ‘gaddar’ remark is “exactly what Ajit Pawar said about Eknath Shinde.”

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Amid the massive row, Kunal Kamra referred to the vandalism in Habitat, stating that “entertainment venue is merely a platform.”

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Reportedly, Kunal Kamra's call records, and bank details would be scanned, said Maharashtra's junior home minister Yogesh Kadam

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Now, an audio clip of Kamra receiving threats surfaced, prompting police action against the perpetrators, who were later granted bail. Read here.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Mumbai's Habitat studio shut down after the vandalism by Shiv Sena party workers. In the morning, BMC officials demolished illegal portions of the Habitat. Here's a glimpse

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Eknath Shinde have demanded an apology from Kunal Kamra for his ‘gaddar’ remark. The comedian, however, stated that he would apologise, only if he is ordered by courts.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Several political leaders, including Jaya Bachchan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, voiced their support for Kunal Kamra. Know more here.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Mumbai's Habitat studio, where Kunal Kamra filmed his show containing the controversial "traitor" remark aimed at Eknath Shinde, was demolished by Mumbai's civic body for alleged building violations

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kunal Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to joke about Eknath Shinde's 2022 split from Uddhav Thackeray to form a rival faction of Shiv Sena.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: During his ‘Naya Bharat’ performance, Kunal Kamra took a fresh swipe at Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal. Read here.

Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: On Monday afternoon, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal was taken into custody for vandalising the Habitat studio, where Kunal Kamra's performance was held.