Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Tuesday said stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra will be provided protection once he reaches the city. The statement came in view of the threats posed to the comedian, especially from Shiv Sena office-bearer Rahool Kanal.
A senior inspector at Khar police station, Sanjeev Dhumal, said: “Since Kamra is an accused in a case registered at the station, we have to provide him protection.”
On Monday, Kanal had said, “When Kamra comes to Mumbai, we will give him a Shiv Sena-style welcome.” Although the Khar police have registered four FIRs against Kamra, they will be treated as one since the place of alleged offence, witnesses and sections are the same. “For us, this is a case, and we treat it as one even though several cases have been filed,” Dhumal said.
No Fresh Summons Issued
Kamra is not expected in Mumbai before April 7, as the Madras High Court has granted him interim relief. A third summon was issued to the comedian asking him to be present by April 5.
The police also sent summonses to witnesses who were present at the venue when Kamra’s ‘Naya Bharat’ show was being recorded. The witnesses, including audience members, the manager, hotel staff and technicians, were asked to record their statements. Some of them have already done so.
According to sources, the police issued a fresh notice to an individual who attended the show as part of the audience. He received the notice under Section 179 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita on March 29 and is scheduled to provide his statement to the police on April 2. A 45-year-old who works at a private bank was also among the audience. The police repeatedly called him a day after the FIR was filed against Kamra. At the time, he was travelling in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. When he informed the police about it, they did not believe him.
On March 29, he received a notice, and the police asked him to appear on March 30 as a witness. Eventually, he cut his trip short and returned to Mumbai. He will present himself before the police on Wednesday. On Tuesday Kamra posted a message on ‘X’ titled, ‘How to kill an Artist: A Step-By-Step Guide’.
About The Controversy
In his Naya Bharat show, Kamra referred to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” and said he had “stolen someone’s father”. He also made remarks about prominent politicians, industrialists and central agencies. After a zero FIR was registered against Kamra at the MIDC police station on March 24, the case was transferred to Khar. The FIR was based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Murji Patel, who represents the Andheri (East) constituency.
The police registered the case under Sections 353(1)(b) (publishing or circulating false statements or rumours), 352 (provoking a 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. Three more FIRs were filed on March 28 under the same sections, and a few cases were also registered in Thane and Dombivli.
