Mumbai: The Khar Police have intensified their investigation against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who recently courted controversy by singing a disputed song during a show at a studio in Khar. In a significant setback for Kamra, the police have rejected his plea seeking seven days to appear for questioning. Instead, they issued a second summons on Wednesday, instructing him to appear for interrogation.
Kamra finds himself in legal trouble as the Khar Police have issued a second summons over his controversial comments, allegedly targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde without naming him. The police have directed Kamra to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday at 11 AM. Since Kamra is currently out of Maharashtra, the summons was also sent to him via WhatsApp.
On Monday, a team from Khar Police visited Kamra’s residence and handed a copy of the summons to his parents. Reacting to the development, Kamra took to Instagram to condemn the vandalism at the Habitat Club, where his show was disrupted. He refused to apologize, stating that he stands by his statements.
"I am not afraid of this mob," Kamra wrote. He clarified that the comedy venue is merely a stage and not responsible for his jokes. Kamra defended his right to satirize political leaders, asserting that mocking politicians and the system is not illegal.
Kamra also questioned whether the law would take action against those who vandalized the venue. "Will the law apply equally to those who resorted to violence because they were offended by a joke?" he asked. The comedian reiterated that he stands by his remarks and is ready to cooperate with the legal process. In a sarcastic tone, he added, "Those leaking my number to issue threats should know by now that all unknown calls go straight to my voicemail."
Kamra’s defiant stance and the legal action against him have sparked political debates, with many closely following the police investigation and its potential consequences.
According to police sources, if Kamra fails to comply with the second summons, a third summons will be issued. Should he continue to evade questioning, the police may approach the court to seek a warrant against him.
On Monday, the Khar Police issued the first summons, asking Kamra to appear on Tuesday. However, he did not show up. Following this, Kamra's lawyer contacted the police, requesting seven more days for his appearance, citing his inability to be present. The police denied the request on Wednesday and issued a second summons, demanding Kamra appear promptly for questioning.
A senior Mumbai Police official revealed that Kamra’s current location has been traced to Tamil Nadu. The police have instructed him to return and cooperate with the investigation at the earliest. If he fails to appear, legal action may be taken against him, which could include the issuance of an arrest warrant.
