Kunal Kamra. Photo source: @kunalkamra88|X
Mumbai: As stand up comedian Kunal Kamra faces legal backlash over controversial jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a Navi Mumbai banker who had purchased ticket for the comedian’s show claimed the police summons made him cut short his vacation in south India. While news agency Press Trust of India reported Mumbai police denying summons to any audience for questioning, Kamra apologised to the banker and offered to schedule his next vacation. “I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience that attending my show has caused to you. Please email me so that I can schedule your next vacation anywhere you’d like in India” the comedian posted on X today.
Kamra’s fans claimed the Mumbai Police summoned audience members, including the Navi Mumbai banker contacted on March 29 while vacationing in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Identified via ticket platform data, the banker was listed as a witness, raising privacy concerns. Police have also recorded statements from the show’s cameraperson and staff, though they deny targeting fans broadly.
Kamra is entangled in a legal and political controversy following his latest comedy special, Naya Bharat, released on YouTube on March 24, 2025. The 45 – minute video, which has amassed over 12 million views, includes a parody song allegedly mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, labeling him a “gaddar” (traitor). This has sparked multiple First Information Reports (FIRs), police summons, and public outrage, highlighting tensions over free speech, political power, and judicial oversight in India. As of today, April 2, 2025, Kamra has received a third summons from Mumbai’s Khar Police to appear for questioning on April 5, while securing interim anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court until April 7.
The uproar began when Shiv Sena activists, loyal to Shinde, vandalized The Habitat studio in Khar, Mumbai, where the show was filmed on February 2, 2025. The group filed an FIR against Kamra under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for defamation and public mischief, accusing him of maligning Shinde, who split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in 2022. Three additional FIRs were registered in Nashik Rural, Jalgaon, and Nandgaon, later consolidated under Khar Police. Kamra’s refusal to apologize and his satirical critique of the government’s response have fueled the escalating conflict.
Kamra’s Response and Fan Reactions
Kamra has stood firm, posting a satirical “How to Kill an Artist” guide on X on April 1, 2025, listing steps like “File multiple FIRs” and “Vandalize venues,” accusing the government of suppressing dissent.
His fans have rallied online, with hashtags like #StandWithKunal and #ComedyIsNotACrime trending on X. Supporters such as @RohanVerma92 posted, “Kunal Kamra is our voice,” while @Priya_Speaks called the police action “a new low for democracy.”
How Fans Amplify His Message
Kamra’s fans are amplifying his message by sharing clips of Naya Bharat on X, YouTube, and Instagram, with over 50,000 reposts of the parody song on X alone by April 2. Fan accounts like @KunalKamraFans have organized virtual watch parties, logging 10,000 participants on March 30, 2025. They also circulate his X posts, with his “How to Kill an Artist” guide retweeted over 15,000 times, ensuring his critique of state overreach reaches a wider audience.
Judicial and Political Developments
Now residing in Tamil Nadu, Kamra sought transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court on April 1, which was granted, citing no malicious intent. The Maharashtra Legislative Council admitted a breach of privilege notice against him. Opposition leaders, including Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, condemned the police action as indicative of a “police state” under the Bharatiya Janata Party – led Mahayuti government.
Kamra’s Comedy, Popularity, and Film Work
Kamra’s comedy features biting political satire and social commentary, targeting government policies, media, and judicial inconsistencies. Naya Bharat critiques the ruling coalition, consistent with his 2019 special Patriot, which mocked nationalism. His popularity stems from his debut viral video, “Patriotism and the Government,” uploaded on YouTube on May 31, 2017, which has over 5 million views. Now with 2 million X followers and 1.8 million YouTube subscribers, his appeal lies in his relatable, confrontational style, resonating with urban, liberal youth. Kamra has not acted in movies but appeared as a guest in the 2022 film Doctor G, playing himself in a courtroom scene alongside Ayushmann Khurrana.
Origins of His Troubles
Kamra’s legal challenges started on November 11-12, 2020, when he tweeted criticism of the Supreme Court over television anchor Arnab Goswami’s bail plea, leading to a contempt case filed by law student Shrirang Katneshwarkar on November 13. The Supreme Court issued a notice but declined punishment in February 2021, citing free speech. The current Shinde controversy, beginning with the February 2, 2025, vandalism, marks a significant escalation driven by Shiv Sena’s reaction to his parody.
Reflections on Indian Society and Systems
The case reveals a politically sensitive system where satire triggers rapid retaliation, evident in the FIRs and vandalism. The police’s pursuit of audience members suggests overreach, while the judiciary’s interim relief tests its free speech stance. Socially, Kamra’s fans view him as a resistance figure, while critics, including Shiv Sena supporters, see his humour as divisive.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, run by a government-appointed administrator since its legislature lapsed in 2022, demolished parts of The Habitat studio post-vandalism, citing violations, a move critics call politically motivated.
As Kamra prepares for questioning, his fans’ efforts to amplify his message keep the case in the spotlight, shaping debates on artistic freedom in the country.
– global bihari bureau
