Comedian Kunal Kamra has been asked to appear before Mumbai police for questioning on March 31 over his 'traitor' jab at Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde during a stand-up performance. Kamra, who is facing a defamation case, was initially asked to appear before Khar police on Tuesday, but the comedian had requested a week's time.
However, the police rejected his request and issued a second summons on Wednesday. Kamra, a vocal critic of the BJP-led government, has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case. The case was registered on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
Kamra stirred a massive controversy after he referred to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor) in a Bollywood parody song during a performance at the Habitat Comedy Club. The jab was a reference to Shinde's 2022 rebellion that led to a split in the Shiv Sena.
The remark triggered workers of Shinde's Shiv Sena, who vandalised the venue as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located on Sunday. Mumbai civic body officials also visited the venue and razed a temporary structure.
While Kamra has been booked for defamation, an FIR was filed against 12 members of Shinde's Yuva Sena, including his close aide Rahool Kanal, for vandalising the studio. All of them have been granted bail.
However, a brazen Kamra has asserted that he won't apologise for his controversial remarks. "I will not apologise... I don't fear this mob and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," Kamra tweeted amid constant attacks from BJP and Mahayuti leaders.
Shinde has likened Kamra's remark against him to taking "supari" (contract) to speak against someone. He also appeared to justify the vandalism at the studio, saying, "Action causes reaction".
The whole controversy, however, seems to have had little effect on Kamra, who has continued to take potshots at the Shiv Sena and the government with satirical parody videos.
