Kunal Kamra row: BMC begins demolition of venue where comedian made jokes on Eknath Shinde
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI): The studio in Khar in which stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra filmed his show containing the controversial "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was on Monday demolished by Mumbai's civic body for alleged building violations.
The action by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation came a day after Habitat studio and Unicontinental hotel where it is located were ransacked late Sunday night by irate Shiv Sainiks.
The temporary shed and other structures comprising the studio, which was created in the basement of the hotel, has been razed, a civic official said.
"It was removed as there is no civic permission to create a studio in the basement. The BMC will check the hotel to see if everything is as per the allowed plan," the official said.
Earlier in the day, Habitat Studio announced they were shutting down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised its premises.
In an Instagram post, the studio said, "We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us."
The studio said artists are "solely responsible for their views and creative choices" and it has never been involved in the content performed by them.
"But recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are the proxy for the performer", it said.
"We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views free and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers’ rights," the note further read.
In a previous post, Habitat Studio issued an apology to "all those hurt by this video".
"The Habitat is not involved in the making of the recent video of Kunal Kamra and it does not endorse the views expressed," it said.
Habitat Studio, where Kamra's show was held, is the same venue where the controversial 'India's Got Latent' show was filmed and led to major controversy last month.
Maharashtra | BMC cracks down on illegal structures at Habitat Studio in Mumbai amid comedian Kunal Kamra row; demolition underway.#KunalKamra #HabitatStudio pic.twitter.com/v8cVjvDyfn
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) March 24, 2025
#BREAKING
— Daily Perpetual (@dailyperpetual) March 24, 2025
Mumbai: Amid a row over stand-up comedian #KunalKamra's alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy CM #EknathShinde, #kunalkamra 's Studio likely to be razed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
BC Officials have reached with hammers🔨 pic.twitter.com/N7btAfs9nG
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SRH knocked out of play-off race after washout against DC
Hyderabad, May 5 (PTI): Sunrisers Hyderabad were eliminated from the play-offs race after their Indian Premier League fixture against Delhi Capitals was called off due to heavy rain following the first innings here on Monday.
Pat Cummins-led SRH pace attack ran through the DC batting line-up to limit the visitors to 133/7 before rain dashed the slim hopes of the home team. Both teams shared a point each for the abandoned game.
With 13 points from 11 games, DC remain in contention for a top-four spot.
After reaching the final last year, it was a season to forget for SRH who could not replicate their ballistic run of 2024 with the bat. Having collected only seven points from 11 matches, SRH will now be playing for pride.
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were already eliminated from the competition.
Before rain lashed the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, the hosts put up a clinical effort with the ball and were on course for only their fourth win of the season until rain arrived, creating large puddles of water on the outfield. The match officials decided to call off the game at 11.10 pm local time.
The shot selection of Delhi Capitals' batters contributed to their downfall after being put in to bat.
They were left reeling at 29 for five in 7.1 overs with captain Cummins causing the maximum damage.
Cummins had Karun Nair caught behind on the very first ball of the match with a good length ball around the off-stump. It was a rather loose shot from the DC batter first up.
Faf du Plessis departed in Cummins' following over, a failed attempt to put the relentless Australian away for a boundary. Not getting any loose ball from Cummins, the South Africa went for a pull on the charge only to be caught by the wicket-keeper.
Cummins' third victim was Abhishek Porel who was caught after mistiming a flick.
Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat then got into the act by dismissing Axar Patel and K L Rahul respectively. The in-form Rahul went for a drive on the up but ended up edging it to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps.
It was one way traffic until Tristian Stubbs (41 not out off 36) and impact player Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26) combined to take DC to a respectable total. They shared a 66-run stand off 45 balls.
Sharma was able to break the shackles by depositing leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari for a couple of sixes over long-on in the 15th over.
Stubbs did not look as comfortable as Sharma in the middle but managed to provide much needed support to the latter. The South African could find only four boundaries with the last one coming off the final ball of the innings.
🚨 News 🚨
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2025
Match 55 between @SunRisers and @DelhiCapitals has been called off due to wet outfield.
Both teams share a point each.
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/1MkIwk4VNE
#TATAIPL | #SRHvDC pic.twitter.com/VnVZWjsjGJ
