Mumbai, Mar 25 (UNI) Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, currently facing backlash for his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Tuesday failed to appear before the city police who want to question him in a case registered against him in connection with his controversial statement against Shinde.
According to police, Kamra, who lives in Puducherry, was asked to remain present before the Khar police by 11 am today.
Sources said that responding to the summons, a member of Kamra legal team had approached the police and said that due to prior professional commitment, he cannot appear today but assured to appear when required.
Sources said that police is in process of accepting Kamara's legal team plea and is in process of issuing a fresh summon with a direction to appear on the next date as fixed.
Meanwhile, reacting to the controversy a day later, Eknath Shinde stated, "While freedom of speech is a fundamental right, there must be certain boundaries."
He likened Kamra’s comments to taking a 'supari' (contract) to target someone, adding, "I understand satire, but there should be a limit."
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Gulab Raghunath Patil warned that if Kunal Kamra does not apologise, “we will speak to him in our own style”.
Talking to media persons in the state assembly premises, Patil said, "The Sena won't leave him... We won't tolerate this insult... if he doesn't apologise, kabhi toh bahar aayega na, kaha chupega? (he will come out, where will he hide)... The Shiv Sena will show its real form.”
Minister of State for Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, reacting to the contoverssory on Tuesday, said Kunal Kamra would be punished for his behaviour, which he described as “unacceptable”.
"He will be punished. If you are going to insult the Supreme Court, PM of India, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, it is not tolerable. You cannot behave like this in Maharashtra or India... We do enjoy comedy, but this is not the kind of comedy that will be tolerated in Maharashtra,” Kadam told the media persons in the assembly during the ongoing budget session.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray had said that Kamra, being targeted by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena for labelling the Deputy Chief Minister a traitor, has not done anything wrong.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi in a statement on X said, "Kunal did not take any name; all he said was a man with a beard who went to Guwahati & was a puppet of Fadnavis. What made Shinde’s goons believe it was about their SUPREME LEADER & go vandalise the place? Shinde’s goons have rewritten the Kamra joke on themselves and proved him right!"
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