Mumbai: The Mumbai police have filed an FIR against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly making defamatory comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a performance. The remarks, which were made in a nearly two-minute video, reportedly mocked the ruling Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
In addition to Kamra, nearly 40 Shiv Sena workers have been named in the case for their involvement in vandalizing the Habitat Studio in Khar, Mumbai, where Kamra’s show was filmed. The workers are also accused of damaging a hotel located on the same premises.
Maharashtra ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/FYaL8tnT1R
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 23, 2025
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, with a separate FIR filed by the Khar police. This case involves 19 identified Shiv Sena members, including Yuva Sena leader Rahul Kanal, Vibhag Pramukh Kunal Sarmarkar, and Akshay Panvelkar, along with 15 to 20 unidentified individuals. They are accused of ransacking the Habitat Studio and hotel properties.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has demanded an apology from Kamra for his remarks and warned of legal consequences if the comedian fails to comply. Fadnavis emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, disrespectful and insulting comments will not be tolerated.
