Kunal Kamra Receives Third Summons from Mumbai Police for Questioning Today
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Synopsis
Kunal Kamra has received a third summons from Mumbai's Khar Police to appear for questioning today regarding alleged controversial remarks directed at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This follows two previous summons he did not attend, amidst concerns for his safety and ongoing investigations.
Key Takeaways
- Kunal Kamra issued a third summons by Khar Police.
- Allegations relate to remarks aimed at Eknath Shinde.
- Kamra did not attend previous summons.
- Safety concerns raised by Kamra's lawyer.
- Investigation is ongoing despite court protection.
Mumbai, April 5 (NationPress) Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been served a third summons by Mumbai's Khar Police, directing him to appear for questioning on Saturday.
This third summons comes after two previous attempts by the police to summon Kamra for interrogation, which he did not attend.
Kamra is currently under investigation for a supposed controversial remark perceived as an indirect jab at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The video, released after Kamra's performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, featured the comedian adapting a well-known Bollywood song from 'Dil To Pagal Hai. 'Meri nazar se tum dekho toh, gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,' Kamra stated during his show, which was interpreted as a dig at Shinde.
The remarks were seen within the context of the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis, resulting in the collapse of the government led by Uddhav Thackeray, and have led to multiple FIRs against Kamra.
After the release of Kamra's video on March 23, Shiv Sena activists, upset by his comments, vandalized the Unicontinental Hotel in Khar where Kamra recorded the video. This incident resulted in the arrest of 12 supporters of Shinde, who were eventually granted bail.
In response to the summons, Kamra previously mentioned he was unavailable in Mumbai due to other obligations and proposed to attend questioning on April 2.
However, the police did not accept his request for an extension.
Kamra's attorney, V. Suresh, has voiced concerns regarding Kamra's safety, claiming he has received threats from certain ministers within the Maharashtra Cabinet.
Mumbai's Khar Police Station is overseeing the investigation, with two FIRs already lodged against Kamra for alleged derogatory remarks. Additionally, three more FIRs filed in different regions of Maharashtra have been integrated into the investigation in Mumbai.
The police have confirmed that Kamra is currently not in touch with the Khar police station. Despite the recent summons, the Madras High Court has granted Kamra protection from arrest until April 7, indicating that the investigation is progressing despite his earlier refusals to cooperate.
