“Supari” For Comedy? Conspiracy Probe After Kunal Kamra Mocks Eknath Shinde

Mumbai Police are investigating if Kunal Kamra’s jokes concentrating on Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde had been a part of a conspiracy and whether or not the comedian acquired cash or every other type of assist to mock the Maharashtra Chief Minister, sources have stated.

A group from Khar police station visited Kunal Kamra’s Mumbai house, the place his mother and father keep, with a summons, asking the comedian to seem for questioning in reference to the instances in opposition to him. For the reason that comedian is believed to have left the state, the summons has been despatched to his WhatsApp quantity too. Kamra faces a number of prices, together with defamation and statements conducing to public mischief.

In keeping with Mumbai police sources, they’re looking for out if Kunal acquired cash or every other assist to focus on Eknath Shinde. They’re additionally probing if somebody helped the comedian write the traces he used in opposition to the Sena chief. Police have stated Kunal Kamra’s telephone and different units could also be examined throughout the probe.

In a present shot at Mumbai’s Habitat studio, Kunal Kamra focused Mr Shinde with a parody of ‘Bholi Si Surat’, a preferred track from the 1997 blockbuster Dil To Pagal Hai. He used the ‘gaddar’ (traitor) jibe in opposition to the Shiv Sena chief, who led a riot in opposition to Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, bringing down his authorities and splitting the social gathering.

Upset with the remarks, Shiv Sena staff vandalised the studio, a most popular venue for stand-up comedy exhibits. Mr Shinde has stated he didn’t assist the vandalism, however cited social gathering staff’ sentiments and stated, “each motion has a response”. He has additionally requested who gave Kunal Kamra “supari” to focus on him. 

In addition to the vandalism, the studio additionally confronted a demolition train with civic officers alleging constructing legislation violations. The studio introduced it has determined to close down for now and stated it was not liable for the content material in performers’ exhibits. “We’ve got by no means been concerned within the content material carried out by any Artist, however the current occasions have made us rethink about how we get blamed and focused each time nearly like we’re a proxy for the performer,” it stated.

In an announcement issued late final evening, Kunal Kamra stated the studio or any political social gathering was not liable for his remarks. “An leisure venue is merely a platform. An area for all kinds of exhibits. Habitat (or every other venue) isn’t liable for my comedy, nor does it have any energy or management over what I say or do. Neither does any political social gathering. Attacking a venue for a comic’s phrases is as mindless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, since you did not just like the butter hen you had been served,” he stated in a publish on X.

He stated he doesn’t worry the mob and will not be hiding. The comedian stated he was keen to cooperate with police and courts. “However will the legislation be pretty and equally deployed in opposition to those that have determined that vandalism is the suitable response to being offended by a joke? And in opposition to the unelected members of the BMC, who’ve arrived at this time at Habitat, with out prior discover, and tore the place down with hammers?” he requested.

The Opposition, in the meantime, has backed the comedian and slammed the Maharashtra authorities for going after him. Uddhav Thackeray, Mr Shinde’s former boss, stated Kunal Kamra has instructed the reality. “It was not satire. Those that steal are ‘gaddar’. There is no such thing as a ‘freedom of expression’ with regards to traitors,” the Sena (UBT) chief has stated.