Comedian Kunal Kamra was summoned by the Khar Police Station for questioning. After that, police officers came to his house. The purpose of the investigation has not yet been revealed, reported IANS.
According to an official, there is a lot of uncertainty around whether comedian Kunal Kamra would make an appearance before Mumbai's Khar Police on Monday to provide a statement because he has not contacted the police. To date, Kamra has received two summonses from the Mumbai Police. In response to his previous "traitor" remark directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the second one, sent on March 24, requested that he appear at Khar Police Station on Monday, March 31. According to a police spokesman, there was no formal word on whether Kunal Kamra would be seen by the Khar police on Monday.
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Although it seemed unlikely that Kamra would participate in the probe during the day, his counsel, V. Suresh, has been raising concerns about the comedian's safety should he visit Mumbai. Sanjay Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena, expressed security worries over Kamra on Monday as well, claiming that the comic had been threatened by certain Cabinet ministers. Rahool Kanal, general secretary of the Yuva Sena (Shinde wing) of the Shiv Sena, has made a bold remark about stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, saying that he will be welcomed "Shiv Sena-style" when he returns to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu, regardless of any security he may have there.
He said, “Following the procedure of law, (Shiv Sena) Yuva Sena members come to the police station for attendance every Monday and Thursday. We welcome the Court's verdict that gives him relief, but it is only until April 7. He should come and face the law... No matter what protection he has there (in Tamil Nadu), whenever he comes to Mumbai, he will be welcomed in a good 'Shiv Sena style'... It's not a threat. Mumbai has this culture of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', and he considers himself a guest here (in Mumbai) now...What is there to get scared of? He should face the law and follow the procedure."
According to the attorney, Kamra received a summons from Khar Police on March 24 requesting him to attend an investigation on Monday, but they were sent to his parents' home in Mumbai. Kamra replied by sending a letter offering to appear on April 2 but noting that he was not in Mumbai because of other commitments. The Madras High Court has granted Kamra protection from arrest until April 7.
In a humorous parody of a well-known Hindi song, Kamra inadvertently called Shinde a "traitor," alluding to the political unrest in Maharashtra in 2022 that ultimately resulted in the fall of the state administration led by Uddhav Thackeray. In February, he filmed a video for the show "Naya Bharat," which was posted on social media on March 23. The Maharashtra governing party responded strongly to the humorous act shortly after it was released.
Following the broadcast of the video, the controversy grew as angry Shiv Sena members damaged the Unicontinental hotel in Khar, where his act was filmed. Twelve Shinde supporters were arrested as a result of the incident and were granted bail.