Kunal Kamra Seeks More Time From Mumbai Police, Shares Shiv Sena Vandalism Video as Controversy Escalates
Published March 25, 2025, 03:30 AM PDT
Mumbai, India – Indian comedian Kunal Kamra has requested additional time to comply with a Mumbai Police summons issued after his controversial “traitor” jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde sparked outrage. The Khar Police had ordered Kamra, currently in Puducherry, to appear by 11 AM today, March 25, 2025, over a defamation FIR filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Hours ago, Kamra escalated the standoff by posting visuals of Shiv Sena workers vandalizing The Habitat studio in Mumbai, where he performed the now-infamous set, intensifying a nationwide debate on free speech.
The video, shared on X around 1 AM PDT, shows a mob—some identified as Shiv Sena supporters—smashing equipment and tearing apart the Khar venue on March 23. “This is what happens when you can’t take a joke,” Kamra captioned the clip, refusing to apologize despite mounting pressure from Shinde’s faction. The vandalism, which led to 12 arrests (all later bailed), has drawn sharp reactions, with Shinde defending it as “action causes reaction” and opposition leader Uddhav Thackeray backing Kamra, saying he “voiced public opinion.”
Kamra’s parody song, set to Dil To Pagal Hai’s tune and calling out a “gaddar” (traitor)—a clear dig at Shinde’s 2022 rebellion—has snowballed into a political firestorm. Mumbai Police are now probing if the act was a paid “conspiracy,” per NDTV sources, while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished a temporary structure at The Habitat on March 24, a move Kamra slammed as retaliatory. “No prior notice—just hammers,” he posted.
As of 3 AM PDT, Kamra’s legal team confirmed to The Indian Express he’s seeking an extension due to his location, 1,600 miles from Mumbai. Social media is ablaze, with #KunalKamra trending as supporters hail his defiance and critics, including BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, call his humor “disrespectful.” The comedian doubled down, stating, “I don’t fear this mob, and I won’t hide.”
This clash—pitting comedy against political power—could redefine India’s free speech boundaries. Will Kamra face arrest, or will the visuals of Sena’s rampage shift the narrative? Stay tuned.
