The Madras High Court has granted interim anticipatory bail to comedian Kunal Kamra in case involving controversial jokes on Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde in his YouTube video ‘Naya Bharat’. Kamra submitted to the High Court on Friday that he moved to Tamil Nadu from Mumbai in 2021 and has been “ordinarily a resident of this State since then” and that he feared arrest by Mumbai Police. Earlier, the Maharashtra Legislative Council admitted a breach of privilege notice against the comedian. Kamra was asked to appear before the Mumbai Police for questioning before March 31.
Opposition attacks BJP over Kunal Kamra row: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that the party decided to remain silent after Kamra directly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi but expressed outrage to the comedian’s parody song that did not mention Eknath Shinde by name. “Kunal Kamra directly criticised prime minister Modi in his show, and the BJP took no offence. But the same party was outraged over a parody song that did not even name Shinde. It appears the BJP is using Shinde as a front to target Kamra,” he claimed.
Kamra attacks T-Series after video visibility blocked: Kunal Kamra on Wednesday attacked Bollywood studio T-Series alleging that his controversial comedy special ‘Naya Bharat’ was flagged for copyright violations on YouTube. Kamra, posting a screenshot of his video getting flagged for copyright issues, slammed the company for “being a stooge”, saying that comedy and parody comes under fair legal use.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) announced it will operate 764 special bus services to accommodate the expected surge in passengers during summers. The services will be available in various divisions from April 15 to June 15.
The wife of slain NCP leader Baba Siddique on Friday filed an application seeking the court's nod to intervene in the proceedings related to the case.
Siddique, 66, a former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan's office in Mumbai's Bandra (East) area on the night of October 12 last year.
The Madras High Court granted comedian Kunal Kamra the relief on the condition that he should execute a bond to the satisfaction of the judicial magistrate at Vanur in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu.
Justice Sunder Mohan also issued notice to 2nd Respondent (R2-Khar Police) and posted the matter to April 7.
A CAG report revealed that Maharashtra has been struggling with a surge in output of construction and demolition (C&D) waste which has increased by over 200 per cent in the past four years.
In 2021-2022, the C&D waste generated jumped from 16.59 lakh metric tonne in 2018-19 to 63.12 lakh metric tonne in 2021-22.
Maharashtra has generated 165.29 lakh metric tonnes of C&D waste in four years, of which only 3.18 lakh metric tonne was processed.
The controversy stems from Kamra's show at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar, where he performed a parody song targeting Shinde. The act prompted a strong backlash from Shiv Sena supporters, who vandalised the club and the hotel in which it is located on Sunday night.
Kamra was booked by the Khar police on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the deputy CM.
Comedian Kunal Kamra, who has found himself at the centre of a controversy over his comments on Shiv Sena supremo and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, approached the Madras High Court Friday seeking a transit anticipatory bail in the matter. Read more.
Mumbai police on Thursday asked stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra to appear before it on March 31 in connection with the case against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The case stems from Kamra's recent show at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed a parody song targeting Eknath Shinde.
The act prompted a backlash from Shiv Sena supporters, who vandalised the club and the hotel in which it is located on Sunday night. Kamra (36) was booked by Khar police on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
Kamra was asked to appear before police on Tuesday but he had sought seven days time, the official said. (PTI)
BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar attacked comedian Kunal Kamra over his remarks against Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, saying that the police should catch him and make "his life a comedy."
"The police should catch him and make his life a comedy. You cannot say anything in the name of Freedom of Speech... Everybody has the right to self-respect... Ketki Chitale was in jail for 30 days... The opposition has no right to school us," Mungantiwar told ANI.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Thursday lambasted the mainstream media, accusing it of serving as a mouthpiece for the ruling party.
Kamra labeled the media as "vultures" and expressed his disdain for the media's role in perpetuating misinformation and distracting from pressing issues.
"To all those hounding for a quote - "The mainstream media at this point is nothing but a miscommunication arm of the ruling party. They are vultures who report on issues that don't matter to the people of this country. If they all shut shop from tomorrow till eternity, they will be doing a favour to the country, its people, & their own children," Kamra posted on X.
Kamra's statement was a response to the constant demands for quotes from the media, as the controversy surrounding him intensified over his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM and a recent parody song targeting Nirmala Sitharaman.
Kamra recently sparked a row with his "gaddar" (traitor) joke allegedly aimed at Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned his remarks during a stand-up show and demanded action against him.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday justified the summons issued to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for references to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asserting that it should be done if it is required by the law of the land. Kamra kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra by making caustic remarks against Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, in his show recorded at a studio in Mumbai a few days ago. Vaishnaw, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, was speaking at an interactive session at the Times Now Summit here. "If the law of the land requires it, it should be done," he said when asked if summoning of Kamra by the police was "too extreme" an action. PTI
After comedian Kunal Kamra released a parody song targeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday came hard on Kamra and said that the time has come to answer the latter like Shiv Sena does.
Speaking to the media, Desai warned Kunal Kamra that if he had the courage, he should come out in public and make statements. ANI
Maharashtra tourism minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday said the police should arrest comedian Kunal Kamra at the earliest and not test the patience of party workers.
Angered by the stand-up comedian's parody song targeting Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde, Sena workers on Sunday night vandalised a studio in Mumbai where Kamra's show had been recorded.
"We have been asked by Shinde to be observe restraint, that is why we are quiet. As Shiv Sena workers, we know how to drag him out from wherever he is hiding, but as ministers we have some restrictions," Desai told reporters.
"We want to tell the police, do not test our patience and nab him from wherever he is, put him in a tyre and give him 'prasad'," the Sena leader added. PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said the Maharashtra government summoned comedian Kunal Kamra for insulting a "traitor", but took no action against actor Rahul Solapurkar over his `insult' of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Speaking to reporters a day after the Budget session of the state legislature ended, he also criticised the BJP over its outreach programme for Muslim families `Saugat-e-Modi'.
"You summon Kunal Kamra twice for insulting a traitor, but do not summon Rahul Solapurkar even once," Thackeray said.
Kamra, whose parody song targeting Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led to an attack by Shinde supporters on a studio here on Sunday, has been summoned by Mumbai Police. Shiv Sena (UBT) has often used the term `traitor' for Shinde, who rebelled against Thackeray and split the party in 2022. (PTI)
NCP-SP National Spokesperson Seema Malik condemned the vandalism of Mumbai's Habitat Club by Shiv Sena workers and criticised the actions as an inappropriate response to Kunal Kamra's performance.
Speaking to ANI, Seema Malik said, "It is very unfortunate. India, as a country, has freedom of speech. The Prime Minister himself says that criticism is the soul of democracy. I can't speak about Kunal Kamra's content; everyone should be courteous about the other person's feelings and sentiments." "The way the Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Habitat Club, which was a hub for stand-up artists to perform, it was vandalised as if it were personal to Kunal Kamra. The BMC also took action, saying that the infrastructure was illegal. Did they get to know about it that day? To take the law and order situation into your hands is wrong. I condemn this," she stated.
Comedian Kunal Kamra on Wednesday criticised Bollywood studio T-Series, alleging that his stand-up special "Naya Bharat", which has kicked up a huge controversy over jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was flagged for copyright violations on YouTube.
Kamra on Wednesday dropped a new video from the comedy special, in which he performed a parody of "Hawa Hawai" from "Mr India" to criticise Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her policies.
The songs of "Mr India", which featured Anil Kapoor and late cinema star Sridevi, belong to T-Series label.
Kamra shared a screenshot from YouTube on X, which showed "Naya Bharat", his new video, has been blocked due to copyright restrictions and therefore is not visible to viewers. Due to copyright claims, the video will not be able to generate revenue as well.
"Hello @TSeries, stop being a stooge. Parody and Satire comes under fair use legally. I haven't used the lyrics or the original instrumental of the song. If you take this video down every cover song/dance video can be taken down. Creators please take a note of it," the 36-year-old comic said. (PTI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve on Wednesday said the BJP remained silent on comedian Kunal Kamra's direct jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but reacted strongly to his parody song that did not mention Eknath Shinde by name.
Speaking to reporters at the legislature complex at the end of the Budget session, Danve, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, alleged that whenever there was an attempt to raise any important issue, the ruling benches scuttled it by bringing up frivolous controversies.
"Kunal Kamra directly criticised prime minister Modi in his show, and the BJP took no offence. But the same party was outraged over a parody song that did not even name Shinde. It appears the BJP is using Shinde as a front to target Kamra," he claimed. (PTI)
Police on Wednesday issued a second notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a case filed in Mumbai for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an official said.
According to the official, in the notice, the 36-year-old comic has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case filed at the Khar police station in suburban Mumbai on a complaint lodged by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
It was not clear when Kamra's appearance has been sought as the official did not provide further details.
Police issued the first notice to Kamra on Tuesday and sought his presence, citing start of probe into the defamation case against him. (PTI)
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