Mumbai: The Khar police have sent a summons to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who is seeking a week’s time to respond. Currently, Kamra lives in Puducherry, while his parents reside in Mahim. On Monday, a police officer visited his Mahim residence and handed the summons to his father, who accepted it. After receiving the summons, Kamra’s lawyer visited the Khar police station on Tuesday and submitted a letter seeking a week’s extension, as confirmed by a police source.
Dixit Gedam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 9, stated, “We served a summons by letter at his residence in Mahim on Monday.”
Following his remarks on the Shiv Sena split and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Kamra has been receiving death threats from individuals claiming to be workers of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). According to a source, he has received at least 500 threatening calls, with some people threatening to kill him and cut him into pieces.
Kunal Kamra Uploads A New Video
Meanwhile, after the controversy erupted, Kamra uploaded a new video on Tuesday on his X account (previously Twitter), featuring visuals of vandalised properties by alleged Shiv Sena workers. In the video, he sings a modified version of the song “Hum Honge Kamyab,” titled “Hum Hoge Kangal.”
The visuals show Shiv Sena members vandalising the Habitat Comedy Club. In the same video, Kamra mentions Nathuram Godse and the RSS, describing it as “another anthem of developed India.” The lyrics go, “We shall be poor… one day… superstition in the mind… destruction of the country… We shall be poor… one day… There will be riots all around… Police cases filed on you… One day… Nathuram in the mind, Asaram’s acts… We shall be poor… one day… There will be promotion of the cow… Weapons in hand… Sangh etiquette… One day… People unemployed… Verge of poverty… We shall be poor… one day.”
According to police sources, Kamra was called in for questioning on Tuesday but did not appear. As a result, they may issue another notice. The controversy arose after Kamra allegedly mocked Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance, calling him a “traitor” and accusing him of “stealing someone else’s father,” referencing the song ‘Dil To Pagal Hai.’ A video of these remarks went viral, sparking outrage among Shiv Sena (Shinde) supporters.
Amid the controversy, two FIRs were registered on Monday: one against Kamra for allegedly defaming DCM Shinde and another against around 40 Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers for allegedly ransacking the Unicontinental, where the show was recorded.
About The Case
On Monday, Kamra released his show ‘Naya Bharat’ on all his social media platforms. The MIDC police registered a zero FIR against him for allegedly defaming DCM Shinde and publishing or circulating false statements and rumours. The case was filed based on a complaint by Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Murji Patel. The police filed the case under Sections 353(1)(b) (publishing or circulating false statements or rumours), 352 (provoking breach of peace), and 356(2) (defamation, specifically outlining that whoever, by words or other means, makes or publishes an imputation intending to cause harm) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case, registered on March 24, was transferred to Khar Police Station as the incident occurred under its jurisdiction.
Another FIR was filed against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahul Kanal, Kunal Sarmalkar, and around 40 other workers for allegedly vandalising the Habitat stand-up comedy venue, where the video was reportedly recorded. The case was filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act, with almost 13 sections applied against the workers, including obstructing government work, rioting, intimidation, unlawful assembly, and trespassing. The Khar police arrested Rahul Kanal and 12 other party workers on Monday, who were released on bail the same day.
Meanwhile, after the vandalism at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar over the uproar surrounding Kunal Kamra’s latest stand-up special “Naya Bharat,” the club has announced that it will be “temporarily closed” until further notice.
