Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra did not turn up on Saturday before the Mumbai Police for questioning in relation to a defamation case lodged against him for reported comments against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This is the third occasion that Kamra has ignored police summons, officials said.
The complaint was made by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, who had objected to a video posted by Kamra in which he had purportedly called Shinde a "traitor." The video had been said to ridicule the break-up of the Shiv Sena, and party workers had vandalized the studio and hotel where the show had been produced on March 23.
Even after being served a third summons to appear on April 5, Kamra was still nowhere to be seen. Officers from the Khar Police had already visited him earlier in the week at his Mahim residence after he did not reply to the second notice.
In a fresh development, the Shiv Sena also filed a written complaint with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, seeking an investigation into alleged foreign funding for his videos. The complaint, referring to the content of his recent stand-up show "Naya Bharat", questioned the sources of his income and potential financial improprieties.
The EOW is now considering the complaint, filed by seeking to track financial transactions associated with Kamra's content and performances online.
Totally, three cases have been lodged against Kamra at the Khar Police Station, one of the Mayor of Jalgaon and two of a hotelier and businessman in Nashik.
Responding to reports that some of the viewers of his show had been served police notices for questioning, Kamra made a public apology. "I am truly sorry for the trouble that going to my show has caused you," he posted on social media. "Please email me so that I can plan your next vacation anywhere you'd like in India."
So far, no official comment has been released by Kamra or his legal team on why he did not attend the police hearings.
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