The Mumbai Police on Monday arrested 12 individuals in connection with the vandalism at Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where stand-up artiste Kunal Kamra had recently performed his show ‘Naya Bharat’, released on YouTube.
Among those arrested were 11 members of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, who were subsequently presented before the Bandra Magistrate Court. Additionally, Rahul Kanal, a leader from the same faction, was taken into custody.
A case has been registered against the accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 132 and 333, both of which are non-bailable. Kanal’s legal representative has termed these charges “illegal.”
Police sources stated that the accused had forcibly entered the venue and engaged in acts of vandalism, leading to the imposition of Section 132, which carries non-bailable provisions.
The lawyer representing the accused pointed out that the initial FIR had been lodged at the MIDC Police Station. The accused have since been remanded to judicial custody, with a bail application having been filed on their behalf.
The arrested individuals were reportedly protesting against remarks made by Kamra in his comedy special ‘Naya Bharat’.
During the incident, a live performance by comedian Rajat Sood was disrupted as the protesters stormed into the venue and engaged in destruction of property.
The Shiv Sena has expressed strong objections to Kamra’s remarks, while the Opposition in Maharashtra has criticised the state government for what it describes as a “breakdown of law and order.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant defended Kamra’s statements, remarking, “As far as what Kunal Kamra did, I think every word, every sentence said by him is correct. That is what everyone in opposition is alleging against him. He said that in the form of a poem. If we say there is democracy in this country and we believe in that, then we must accept all of this.”
Also read: Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club shuts after Shiv Sena vandalism
Sawant further argued that political satire has long been a part of Indian democracy, stating, “Criticism is criticism. Sometimes, someone does mimicry. Balasaheb Thackeray was a renowned cartoonist; he made caricatures of Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Nehru. Had it been the present time, they would have filed cases against him every day... FIR should be registered against those who vandalized... Can’t they accept criticism?”
Meanwhile, an FIR has also been registered against Kamra himself for his alleged remarks. The legal proceedings against both the protesters and the comedian are expected to intensify in the coming days.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam from the Shinde faction alleged that the funding for Kamra’s show had originated from Matoshree, the residence of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
“The place where this show was recorded, the booking money for it came from Matoshree from Uddhav Thackeray and that is why Eknath Shinde has been targeted,” Nirupam claimed at a press conference in Mumbai.
He further accused Kamra of being part of a larger “Rahul Gandhi and Congress ecosystem.”
Earlier, the authorities had registered an FIR against the accused under Sections 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 324(5), 324(6), 223, 351(2), 352, 333, 37(1), and 135 of the BNS, 2023.
Additional provisions under Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act were also invoked.
The arrests have further fuelled a political row in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling coalition of 'suppressing dissent'.
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