Indian comedian Kunal Kamra has refused to apologise after his jokes during a stand-up show upset supporters of a prominent politician in Maharashtra.
The jokes, some of which targeted Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, went viral on social media. In response, members of Shinde’s Shiv Sena party vandalised the hotel in Mumbai where the show took place.
A police case has been filed against Kamra, and politicians from Maharashtra’s ruling coalition have demanded an apology.
In a statement on Monday night, Kamra said he would cooperate with any lawful action taken against him. However, he questioned whether the law would be equally applied to those who responded with violence to his jokes.
Twelve people were arrested for the hotel vandalism and later released on bail. Despite the damage, Kamra maintained his stance on free expression.
Shinde addressed the controversy, condemning the vandalism but suggesting that comedians should “maintain a certain standard” in their acts. He acknowledged the importance of freedom of expression but stressed that there should be limits.
Kamra, known for his political satire and stand-up shows, has gained a large following on social media. In his latest show, “Naya Bharat” (New India), he references Shinde’s 2022 defection from the Shiv Sena, a move that led to a major political crisis in Maharashtra and a split within the party. Shinde’s group was later recognized by India’s Election Commission as the legitimate Shiv Sena, and now forms part of the state’s governing coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
During the show, Kamra performed a parody of a Bollywood song, indirectly calling Shinde a traitor, which infuriated his supporters.
Although it’s unclear when the show was filmed, the reactions to it have been swift. After Shiv Sena workers damaged the venue, the studio, Habitat, which frequently hosts comedy shows, announced it would close until it figured out how to protect free expression without jeopardising its property.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also demolished parts of the hotel, citing alleged building violations.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a BJP leader, criticized Kamra, urging him to apologise. “We support freedom of speech and political satire, but it should be within limits,” he said.
Fadnavis and Shinde both accused Kamra of acting in support of the opposition. A Shiv Sena lawmaker threatened Kamra with nationwide pursuit, saying he would be forced to leave the country.
Kamra responded in his statement, saying he would not “hide under [his] bed” waiting for the controversy to fade. “It’s not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and our political system,” he said.
Opposition leaders have rallied behind Kamra. Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde’s former party, defended Kamra, saying he had only spoken the truth and expressed public opinion.
Indian comedians have frequently faced legal action over their jokes. In 2021, comedian Munawar Faruqui was jailed after being accused of making offensive jokes, which he had not actually made. Comedian Vir Das also faced backlash and police complaints after a performance in the US, where he criticized the contradictory aspects of Indian society.
