New Delhi: Kunal Kamra, the stand-up comedian, did not appear before the Mumbai Police on Saturday regarding a case against him for allegedly labeling Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “traitor,” as reported by an official to PTI.
This marks the third occasion that Kamra has failed to respond to the police summons. He was charged following a complaint from Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel concerning his purportedly defamatory comments about Shinde during a performance.
Kamra had previously released a video that ridiculed Shinde in light of the division within the Shiv Sena, which led to party members vandalizing the studio and hotel where the video was filmed on the night of March 23.
The official indicated that the Mumbai Police had summoned Kamra to appear on April 5, marking the third request for his presence.
Earlier this week, a team from the Khar police visited Kamra’s residence in Mahim after he missed the second summons.
In a related development, the Shiv Sena filed a formal complaint with the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday, requesting an investigation into the funds Kamra allegedly received from various international sources through his videos.
As reported by ANI, the complainant has urged the EOW to examine the financial transactions associated with Kamra’s content, particularly following his comments about Eknath Shinde in his recent stand-up special, “Naya Bharat,” which raised questions about the origins of his income.
Currently, three distinct cases have been lodged against Kamra at the Khar Police station due to his remarks about Shinde. According to the Mumbai Police, one complaint was filed by the Mayor of Jalgaon, while the other two were submitted by a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik.
On Wednesday, Kamra requested an apology from attendees of his show after the Mumbai Police reportedly issued notices to some of them for questioning.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that my show may have caused you. Kindly reach out to me via email so that I can assist you in planning your next vacation to any destination of your choice in India, he stated.
