Kunal Kamra
Comedy row: Three more cases against Kunal Kamra over joke on Eknath Shinde
Mumbai/IBNS: Three more cases have been filed against popular comedian Kunal Kamra over his controversial joke against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, media reports said.
All three separate cases have been filed at Khar Police Station of west Mumbai.
One case has been filed by the Mayor of Jalgaon city, the two others are by a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik.
The Khar Police has called Kamra twice but the comedian, who is reportedly in Tamil Nadu, is yet to appear.
The Madras High Court has granted Kamra an interim anticipatory bail over multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against him.
The Mumbai Police has asked the stand-up comedian, who is popular for his anti-Modi jokes, to appear at Khar Police Station on March 31.
What did Kamra say?
Kamra, who is best known for his outspoken nature, targeted Shinde during a comedy show by parodying the 1997 song 'Bholi Si Surat' from 'Dil To Pagal Hai'.
In an indirect sweep, Kamra referred to Shinde as a 'gaddar (traitor), referring to his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, an episode that led to the state government's collapse and the party's split.
Mumbai studio announces shutdown after Shinde-led Shiv Sena's vandalism
Mumbai's Habitat Studio, a popular platform for stand-up comedians in the city, on Monday announced its decision to shut down after Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers vandalised it.
Announcing its decision, Habitat Studio wrote on Instagram: "We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices."
"We have never been involved in the content performed by any Artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are a proxy for the performer," the studio said.
The studio further said: "We are shutting down until we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy."
"We invite all artists, audiences, and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers' rights," said the studio.
The studio said it has always been neutral in providing a platform for artists to share their work in any language.
Kamra's performance was hosted by the same studio where the controversial 'India's Got Latent' show was filmed.
The show triggered anger and severe protests were held following popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia's 'sex with parents' comment.
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