In a significant development, Shiv Sena leader Rahool N Kanal, alongside 11 other workers, was granted bail following their involvement in the vandalism at Habitat Studio. The incident occurred after comedian Kunal Kamra made controversial remarks about Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, referring to him as a “Gaddar.”
The altercation took place when workers from the Shiv Sena faction allegedly vandalized the venue, expressing their discontent over Kamra’s remarks. The accused individuals were granted bail by the court on a personal bond of ₹15,000 each. Meanwhile, the management of Habitat Studio expressed shock and concern over the "recent acts of vandalism," which they claim were targeted at them.
The studio also announced that it would shut down temporarily to reassess how to continue offering a platform for free expression without jeopardizing the safety of its property or staff. The studio clarified that it was not involved in the creation of Kunal Kamra’s controversial video and did not endorse the views expressed in it. Following Kamra's remarks, multiple FIRs have been filed against the comedian, . including one based on a complaint from Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik.
The controversy - far from the first with Mr Kamra in the spotlight - broke after he seemed to use the term 'gaddar', or 'traitor', to refer to Shinde, a former (undivided) Shiv Sena leader whose rebellion against party boss Uddhav Thackeray in 2022 caused a split and brought down the latter's government. Shinde's Sena faction then joined hands with the BJP to form the government. Kamra's comment has drawn countercriticism from the opposition - particularly the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction.
Aaditya Thackeray, his son, labelled Shinde an "insecure coward" and his colleague, Priyanka Chaturvedi pointed out that Kamra had not actually named Shinde."Their vandalism shows that it hurt them and that there is truth in the joke. What kind of intolerance is this? If you don't like something, file a police complaint..." she said.