File picture of comedian Kunal Kamra
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Mumbai Police on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) refused to comment on reports that it had rejected Kunal Kamra’s appeal seeking an extension for appearing before the police. “We are investigating the matter. It won’t be appropriate to comment on this right now,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.
Mr. Kamra was summoned by the Mumbai Police on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) after taking a jibe at Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during one of his shows. Mr. Kamra has sought seven days to appear before the police for the investigation, according to sources.
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“We have received a representation from him seeking seven days’ time. We will go through it to take a call on it,” a senior official told The Hindu on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).
The MIDC police registered a first information report (FIR) against Mr. Kamra for his remarks. The FIR was then transferred to Khar police for further investigation.
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Mr. Kamra had reportedly performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the 1997 film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai,” apparently referring to Mr. Shinde as a “traitor”. He also cracked jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the split in the Shiv Sena in 2022 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2023. On Sunday (March 23, 2025), Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Mr. Kamra’s show took place, as well as the hotel in whose premises the venue is located.
While CM Devendra Fadnavis has said that the government would take action according to the law, several Opposition leaders in the State spoke in support of Mr. Kamra.
Mr. Shinde reacted to the developments and said, “Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking ‘supari’ (contract) to speak against someone.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) demanded in the Lok Sabha that stand-up comedy platforms that promote hate speech and create tension in society should be banned. Mr. 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.
(With agency inputs)
Published – March 26, 2025 01:14 pm IST