Kunal Kamra’s Call Records, Transactions to Be Probed, Says Maharashtra Minister

Kunal Kamra’s Call Records: According to Maharashtra minister of state Yogesh Kadam on Monday, the state government would examine stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's call records and financial transactions.

Kamra is at the center of the controversy over his comments against Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.

The minister said a probe against Kamra will be conducted to check if "any mastermind" is behind him.

While at the Habitat Studio in the Unicontinental Hotel in Khar, Mumbai, Kunal Kamra referred to Shinde as a "traitor." He also sang from a Hindi movie describing Shinde's rebellion against his then-boss, Uddhav Thackeray, in 2022.

Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray Supports Kunal Kamra Amid ‘Gaddar’ Remark Controversy

Following the release of a video featuring Kamra's show, a number of Shiv Sena activists came to the studio where Kamra performed and vandalised the place on Sunday night.

Mumbai Police arrested 11 members of Shiv Sena's youth faction, Yuva Sena, for their alleged involvement in vandalisation of the Habitat comedy club - the venue for the stand-up gig within this city.

General Secretary of the Shiv Sena youth wing (Shinde faction) Rahool Kanal who has an FIR against him over the vandalism, alleged that Kamra's act was a "paid conspiracy".

Kanal said the issue was about self-respect and targeting elders. “The message (for Kunal Kamra) is clear, 'Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai.' Whenever you are in Mumbai, you will get a good lesson in Shiv Sena style,” he said.

In 2022, the chief minister, Eknath Shinde, had divided Shiv Sena and broken down the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Later, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ruled in favor of his faction, granting him Shiv Sena's official name and election symbol.

What other leaders said

While the ruling Mahayuti alliance partners - the BJP and Shiv Sena - denounced the alleged remarks and sniffed a conspiracy, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition lent full support to Kamra for exercising his constitutional rights with respect to speech and expression.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has insulted Eknath Shinde with his remarks, and he should apologize for his "low-level comedy".

“We respect freedom of expression, but recklessness will not be tolerated,” he said. This year, people will decide who is the Sena leader, added the CM.

“Kamra should apologise for his low-level comedy. You can have satire but not insult anyone,” he added.

Also Read: DK Shivakumar Refutes Constitution Change Allegations, Calls BJP’s Claims Misleading

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar too reacted to the fracas, saying that people should respect legal limits.

"I have seen that. Nobody should go beyond the law, Constitution, and rules. They should express themselves within their rights," Pawar told reporters. He said there might be differences in opinion but that should not become an escalation point for any issue.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray supported Kamra, saying it is not wrong to call a "traitor" a "gaddar".

“I don't think Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling 'gaddar', a 'gaddar' is not an attack on anyone...Hear the full song (from Kunal Kamra's show) and make others hear it too," Uddhav Thackeray said.

NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar, this is not the pre-2014 era for comedians to enjoy freedom of expression and urged leaders to impart some wisdom to their party workers.

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