A case has been registered against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra following the circulation of a video in which he took a dig at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for switching political sides. The FIR was lodged after Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Murji Patel filed a complaint against Kamra.

Known for his satirical takes on politics, Kamra found himself at the center of controversy after the clip from one of his performances went viral. In the video, he humorously criticized Shinde for breaking away from the original Shiv Sena and joining forces with the BJP, referring to him as a ‘traitor.’ The remarks did not sit well with members of the Shinde-led faction, leading to protests and vandalism.

On Sunday, angry Shiv Sena workers targeted Hotel Unicontinental and a studio in Mumbai’s Khar area, alleging that Kamra had filmed his show at these locations. The incident led to chaos as protestors expressed their outrage over his remarks.

Adding to the tension, political leader Sanjay Nirupam, who recently aligned with the Shiv Sena, posted a controversial message on social media, stating, “We will teach Kunal Kamra a lesson tomorrow at 11 am.” His remarks further fueled the debate over the limits of political satire and free speech.

Kamra’s contentious comments were made during a recent stand-up special titled Naya Bharat, where he extensively discussed current political affairs. In one segment, he sang a parody of a song from the Bollywood movie Dil To Pagal Hai, making indirect references to Shinde’s appearance and his relationship with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. While Kamra did not explicitly mention Shinde’s name, the satire was unmistakable.

Kunal Kamra Responds

Following the uproar, Kamra addressed the controversy with a brief yet pointed social media post. Sharing a picture of himself holding a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, he wrote, “The only way forward.”

This red-colored edition of the Constitution has gained political significance in recent months, particularly after Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi carried a similar copy during public events as part of his ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign.

Meanwhile, The Habitat Studio, one of the venues targeted by Sena workers, has announced a temporary shutdown. In an Instagram statement, the studio emphasized the need for constructive dialogue over destruction. “We believe in conversations, not violence. Hate and harm should not be the response to disagreements. Such actions only weaken the essence of art and free expression,” the statement read.

Kamra’s case has once again sparked debates on freedom of speech, political humor, and the boundaries of public discourse in India.