Mumbai police issue 2nd notice for appearance to comedian Kamra over anti-Shinde remarks
Mumbai, Mar 26 (PTI): Police on Wednesday issued a second notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a case filed in Mumbai for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an official said.
According to the official, in the notice, the 36-year-old comic has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case filed at the Khar police station in suburban Mumbai on a complaint lodged by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
It was not clear when Kamra's appearance has been sought as the official did not provide further details.
Police issued the first notice to Kamra on Tuesday and sought his presence, citing start of probe into the defamation case against him.
After the first notice, sources said the comic had sought one week's time to appear before police.
The comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra by making caustic remarks against Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, in his show recorded at a studio in Mumbai a few days ago.
Kamra, without taking Shinde's name, targeted the Deputy CM over his political career, including the 2022 rebellion against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray which brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Kamra had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," apparently referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also cracked jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the split in the Shiv Sena (2022) and the NCP (2023).
On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamra's show took place, as well as the hotel in whose premises the venue is located.
Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde.
The police have also registered a case against 40 workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena for vandalising the venue of the comedian's show.
On Monday, the police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A local court granted them bail the same day.
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Nine people including Indian arrested for looting departmental store in Kathmandu
Kathmandu (PTI): At least nine people, including an Indian national, were arrested for their involvement in looting various items from a departmental store during the pro-monarchy protest in Nepal, police said.
Ravi Ranjan Kumar, a resident of Patna in Bihar, was among those arrested for looting the Bhatbhateni Departmental Store during Friday's protest and vandalism.
The arrested people looted bottles of whiskey, fruits, beer, and make-up items from the store, a police official said.
The police have initiated necessary legal action against those arrested, said a statement issued by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
During the pro-monarchy protest in Baneshwor-Tinkune area of Kathmandu, demonstrators pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set vehicles on fire and looted shops.
Two persons, including a TV cameraman, were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between security personnel and the protesters, who were demanding the reinstatement of a Hindu monarch.
Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court granted judicial remand for five days to 41 people including the leaders of the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) to investigate the vandalism.
The Kathmandu district police are charging 41 people, including RPP General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Vice President Ravindra Mishra under the State Offense and Organised Crime Act, according to the police.
So far, 110 people have been arrested in connection with the violent protest.
The pro-monarchists have become active since democracy day in February when former monarch Gyanendra Shah said, “Time has come for us to assume responsibility to protect the country and bring about national unity.”
They organised rallies in Kathmandu and other parts of the country, demanding the reinstatement of the 240-year-old monarchy, abolished in 2008.
On Sunday, former vice-chancellor of Nepal Academy Jagman Gurung was appointed the Monarchy Reinstatement Movement Committee chief.
Gurung will take charge as the acting commander of the committee as staunch royalist Navaraj Subedi, the commander of the committee, has been put under house arrest following the violent demonstrations.
