Kunal Kamra controversy: Comedian receives ‘500 threat calls’, Yogi says ‘freedom of speech as birthright…’

Comedian Kunal Kamra stirred up a political storm, with his controversial ‘gaddar’ (traitor) joke, which was allegedly aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned Kamra’s statement during a stand-up show and sought action against him.

Reports have now emerged claiming that Kamra received 500 threat calls after the controversy. They also stated that Kamra agreed to apologise only if the court asks him to do so.

Here’s all the latest you need to know about the Kunal Kamra controversy

1. The Mumbai Police summoned Kunal Kamra over the matter. The comedian requested a week’s time to appear before the authorities.

“We have issued an initial notice to Kamra as a probe has been started into the case against him,” an official told news agency PTI. While the official did not disclose when Kamra has been summoned, sources said the comic has sought one week’s time to appear before police.

2. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said on Tuesday that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that action will be taken as per the law.

“Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded on this issue on behalf of the government… Our CM has said that action will be taken as per the law,” Pawar told reporters while explaining the stand of the Maharashtra government on the matter.

3. The Chief Minister, while speaking in the state Assembly on Monday, said the government would not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny. The CM was quoted by PTI as saying, “We appreciate humour and satire. We accept political satire, but we do not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny.”

“This artist makes statements against the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice; he wants to gain fame by creating controversy. He targeted Eknath Shinde and staged a low-quality comedy,” Fadnavis reportedly said, adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person.

4. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reportedly resumed the demolition work of an illegal structure at Mumbai’s Habitat Studio on Monday. It’s the venue where stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra purportedly shot the controversial remarks against Eknath Shinde. The BMC cited rule violations as the reason for the action.

Earlier on Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra’s show took place, as well as the hotel in whose premises the venue is located.

5. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reacted tp teh controversy saying, “Freedom of expression cannot be used to mount “personal attacks.” he told news agency ANI in an exclusive interview to be aired Wednesday morning, “People have treated freedom of speech as a birthright to divide the country further.”

7. Shiv Sena has strongly objected to the comments made by Kamra. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance in Maharashtra has criticized the Mahayuti government for the “breakdown of law and order.”

8. Sources close to Kunal Kamra told NDTV that the comedian received at least 500 calls in which people have threatened to kill him and cut him to pieces (‘kaat denge tumhe’).

9. Kamra refused to apologise for his remarks and reportedly told Mumbai police on Monday that he did not regret making the joke. According to NDTV, he said he would only apologise if ordered to by the courts.

“I will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down,” a defiant Kunal Kamra said in a late night statement as the row over his comedy act spilled over with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

10. Kunal Kamra on Tuesday shared a video taking an apparent dig at Shiv Sena workers who vandalised the studio where he had performed. In the video, Kamra could be heard singing a song ‘Hum Honge Kangaal’. He inserted the clips of Shinde’s Shiv Sena workers vandalising the studio where the stand-up comedian shot the video.

What is Kunal Kamra controversy?

Kamra had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the 1997 film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai,” apparently referring to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor).

He also cracked jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the split in the Shiv Sena (2022) and the NCP (2023).

Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde.

Police also registered a case against 40 workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena for vandalising the venue of the comedian’s show.

On Monday, police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A local court granted them bail the same day.