Mumbai, April 5 — Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra failed to appear before Mumbai Police on Saturday in connection with a case alleging that he referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a "traitor," according to police officials.
This marks the third time Kamra has ignored police summons issued by the Khar police station.
Defamation Complaint and Studio Ransacking
The case stems from a complaint filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Kamra is accused of making defamatory remarks about Shinde during a comedy show. In a video that went viral, the comedian reportedly mocked Shinde over the political split in the Shiv Sena.Following the release of the video, Shiv Sena workers allegedly vandalized the studio where the video was filmed, along with a hotel located in the same building, on the night of March 23.
Repeated Summons and Legal Relief
Despite being summoned on April 5, Kamra did not appear. The police had previously sent two summonses, which he also skipped. Earlier this week, officers from Khar police station visited Kamra’s residence in Mahim in an effort to serve the second notice.Currently, Kamra is under interim anticipatory bail granted by the Madras High Court, valid until April 7. He is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
In a related development, three FIRs filed against him—at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon, and Nandgaon (Nashik)—have been consolidated and transferred to Khar police station for further investigation.
