LIVE: Unfazed Kunal Kamra comes out with video to take on Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena MP demands ban on comedy platforms promoting hate speech, creating tension

Amid a raging controversy over comic Kunal Kamra's remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena member Dhairyasheel Mane on Tuesday demanded in the Lok Sabha that stand-up comedy platforms that promote hate speech and create tension in society should be banned.

Mane said that some people are running their political agenda through stand-up comedians.

Participating in the discussion on Finance Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, the Sena MP demanded that there should be some policy or framework wherein comedians can be allowed to criticise policies and not indulge in making personal remarks against individuals.

Without taking the name of Kamra, he said in the last two days, people would have seen on TV that "one joker whose mind is empty" is making irresponsible comments against Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

"I demand that such platforms which promote hate speech or create tension in society should be banned," Mane said.

Kamra kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shiv Sena leader Shinde's political career in his show.

The 36-year-old stand-up comedian had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," apparently referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also joked about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.

On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show took place, as well as a hotel on whose premises the club is located.

An unfazed Kamra has said he will not apologise for his comments about Shinde and criticised the acts of vandalism.

Shinde has likened Kamra's jibe at him to taking "supari" (contract) to speak against someone, and said there should be decorum while making a satire, otherwise "action causes a reaction".

Freedom of speech is there, but there should be a limit, Shinde said on Monday reacting to Kamra's comments. PTI 

Mumbai police probing ‘paid content' angle: Report

The Kunal Kamra controversy has reportedly taken a new turn as the police are investigating a conspiracy angle behind the comedian’s jokes aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

According to an NDTV report, the cops are also probing whether Kamra received money or any other form of compensation to mock the Shiv Sena chief. 

A police team delivered a summons at Kunal Kamra's Mumbai home and has asked him to appear for questioning regarding the cases filed against him since the controversy broke out. While the comic is said to be in Tamil Nadu, his parents stay in Mumbai. The summons has also been sent to him through WhatsApp.

According to sources quoted in the NDTV report, the cops are trying to ascertain if Kunal Kamra was paid by anyone to target Eknath Shinde. Another angle is if he received any help in the scripting of the parody song that stoked the controversy in the first place. For this, Kunal Kamra's phone and other devices may be examined during the probe, the report added.

'Either Kamra apologises in 2 days or else...,' says Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) MLA Murji Patel says "We have lodged a complaint to file an FIR at MIDC Police station in Mumbai last night against the very low-level comments made by Kunal Kamra on our leader Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and demanded the police to take action against him at the earliest. Either he apologises in 2 days or else Shiv Sainiks will not let him roam on the streets in Mumbai. Wherever we see him, we will put black ink on his face and teach him a lesson...You are also seeing who is supporting him. Either he has taken 'supari' or saying all of this on his own, police will investigate this...They (Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut) are trying to divert the other issue that is going on. I personally think that all this is done to divert the Disha Salian case going on right now..." (ANI)

‘Absolutely wrong,’ says Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma

Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma says, "Everyone should control their language. You are a comedian, you are working to make people laugh, but by drawing someone else's name and demeaning him, what are you showing to show? You are not making people laugh, you are hurting someone...I think all stand-up comedians should understand their responsibility as to what message they are sending to the public. This is absolutely wrong and the police should take action against this."

Kamra seeks a week's time to appear before police

Kunal Kamra has sought a week's time to appear before the Mumbai police in connection with the case filed against him. The police complaint against the comedian was filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.

Kunal Kamra takes on Shinde Sena with new song

Kunal Kamra shared a video with a new song to slam Shiv Sena workers for vandalising Mumbai's Habitat comedy club where he had mocked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. A huge row erupted after Kamra took a 'traitor' jibe to attack him over the 2022 split of the party formed by Bal Thackeray.

In the new video, the stand-up comedian sings 'Hum Honge Kangal' as visuals of Sena's rampage play up, showing destruction at the venue of his comedy show.

As Kamra sings 'hum honge kangal ek din, man me hai andhvishwas, desk ka satyanash', visuals showed Sena workers throwing chairs and vandalising the property at Mumbai's popular comedy club.

Kamra's video comes just hours after the Mumbai Police issued him summons to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am. In his written reply, filed though his lawyer, Kamra sought one week's time. 

BMC resumes demolition of event venue

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers on Tuesday reportedly resumed the demolition work of an illegal structure at Mumbai's Habitat Studio on Monday, the venue where stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra made controversial remarks on Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.

The BMC cited rule violations as the reason for the action. This marks the second consecutive day that BMC officials visited Unicontinental, The Habitat, in Khar, to demolish the unauthorised section of the venue.

In less than 24 hours after Kunal Kamra’s video, purportedly shot at the venue, the BMC swung into action and demolished an illegal part of the club on Monday afternoon. The civic body’s action came after state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik reached out to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to demolish the studio, calling it illegal. Speaking to Hindustan Times on Monday, Gagrani said he alerted the assistant commissioner of H Ward, Vinayak Vispute to “check possible illegalities in the structure”.

The BMC team found that the owners of the studio had erected a make-shift shed on the terrace, which the civic team razed. The team also found that the basement was being used as a studio – a space only meant to be used for storage. “We told them to remove the shed which is illegal. Since they were unable to do so, our people removed it,” Vispute said, adding notices are not issued to owners of property if the illegal additions made are temporary in nature.

‘Govt should be able to take criticism’: Congress backs Kamra

Maharashtra Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar came in support of Kamra saying his decision not to apologise is right as he has not taken anyone's name.

"If anything is wrong, then they should go to the court. Vandalism and suppressing anyone's voice is not right. A government should be able to take criticism. If someone has done a comedy for laughter, then the government should have laughed it off... Kangana Ranaut said even more derogatory words about your leaders, then it was called freedom of speech... Kunal Kamra's decision not to apologise is right... He has not taken anyone's name... No one is respecting the law... Such a government cannot last long. One or the other day, people would be enraged, and the government would have to pay..." the Congress MLA told reporters.

‘It is to divert attention from key issues,’ RJD MP Manoj Jha

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Tuesday weighed in on the controversy surrounding Kunal Kamra saying, "There was a comedy which became a tragedy."

His statement alludes to the escalating tensions over Kamra's alleged comments towards Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which have sparked vandalism by the youth wing of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers and a broader political debate. He also said such controversies are created to divert attention from real issues.

There could be repercussions for what you say: Kangana Ranaut

Disgracing anyone in the name of comedy is in bad taste, actor and MP Kangana Ranaut said on Tuesday as she weighed in on the ongoing controversy over comic Kunal Kamra's remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's political career.

Ranaut, a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, was speaking to reporters outside the Parliament. "You may be anyone but disrespecting anyone (is not good). You are disgracing someone in the name of comedy, you are disregarding what all he has done. Shinde ji used to drive an auto rickshaw a while ago.

"Today he has made it till here on his own. What are his (Kamra's) credentials? Who are these people who haven't done anything in life? If they can write, I'd say write literature or comedy scenes in films. Abusing in the name of comedy, mocking our scriptures in the name of comedy, making fun of people, mothers and sisters (is not right)," Ranaut said.

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis commented on the row, saying Kamra should apologise for his "low level comedy".

Echoing Fadnavis' remarks, Ranaut said: "These people call themselves influencers. Where is society headed for this 2-minute fame? We need to think about this. Like Fadnavis ji said we have to take some responsibility for what we say. There could be repercussions. Would you stand by that when you are questioned legally?" On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged Habitat Studio in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.

The actor also said it was wrong to compare the incident at the comedy club with the demolition of her Mumbai office by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) back in the 2020 incident following her spat with the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government.

"(Demolition of my office) was a completely illegal activity, this is absolutely legal. They can't be clubbed together," she added. PTI