Mumbai: A day after being granted interim protection from arrest by Madras High Court, three more cases were registered against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a controversial joke aimed at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.
“Several cases have been registered across the state against Kamra. These cases are now being transferred to us as the offence occurred within our jurisdiction at Habitat Studio, where the show was recorded. We have received three cases registered elsewhere, which have been re-registered at the Kharghar police station. However, all the cases will be merged as they relate to the same set of allegations,” informed a police officer from Khar police station.
All the three new cases on Saturday were registered by persons linked with Shiv Sena (Shinde).
The first FIR was based on a complaint lodged by Sanjay Bhujbal, Shiv Sena’s Jalgaon city chief; the second was on a complaint by Sunil Jadhav, a hotelier and Shiv Sena city chief of Nandgaon in Nashik; the third following a complaint lodged by Mayur Borse, Manmad city chief of Shinde’s party.
“We have registered all three cases under sections 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,” the police officer said.
Mumbai Police have sent two summonses to Kamra ,– who resides in Tamil Nadu — asking him to appear before an investigating officer by March 31.
Kamra declined to appear before the police in Mumbai, citing death threats, and requested a week’s time.
“The Madras High Court has granted Kamra interim protection from arrest for his slanderous comments. We will present our side before the High Court,” the police officer added.
Following his satirical song, which was a modified version from 1997 film ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’, Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers vandalised Habitat studio in Khar, where it was recorded.
Shiv Sena MLA Muraji Patel registered the first case after the incident, which was later transferred to Khar police station.
