Mumbai police filed an FIR on Monday against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for supposedly making defamatory comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at a performance.
The FIR was reportedly lodged after Shiv Sena workers damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamra's show, in which he had made a "gaddar" (traitor) snipe at Shinde, was recorded. The building, where the club is also located, is occupied by the Hotel Unicontinental.
The matter escalated further after a video went viral in which Kamra was seen allegedly taunting Shinde, and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel lodged a police complaint. Following the complaint, an FIR was registered early on Monday against Kamra for allegedly committing offenses under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 353(1)(b) for statements causing public mischief and 356(2) for defamation.
In the approximately two-minute video, Kamra also ridiculed the ruling NCP and Shiv Sena. The investigation is ongoing. On Sunday evening, a team of Shiv Sena workers vandalized outside Hotel Unicontinental, damaging the club as well as the hotel.
The incendiary video was also posted on social media by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who titled it "Kunal Ka Kamal." Kamra, in the video, had sung an edited rendition of a hit Hindi song from the film *Dil To Pagal Hai*, ridiculing Shinde and inciting laughter among the audience.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske warned Kamra with being chased by party workers throughout India, threatening, "You will have to run away from India." Mhaske also called Kamra a "contract comedian" and blamed him for attacking Shinde after purportedly taking money from Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel asked Kamra to apologize and stated he would teach Kamra his place. But Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticized the vandalism at the show venue, terming the attack a "cowardly" act.
On social media, Thackeray lashed out at the disruption, saying, "Mindhe's coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian @kunalkamra88 released a song on Eknath Mindhe, which was 100% true.". Only a coward in insecurity would respond to a song by someone." Thackeray also questioned the law and order situation of the state, and hinted that the act was made with an attempt to discredit the Chief Minister as well as Home Minister.
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