India

No Special Protection For Kunal Kamra: Sanjay Nirupam

Mumbai: The Kunal Kamra episode seems to have severed even the slightest remains of any bond that may have existed between the two factions of the Shiv Sena. Sanjay Nirupam, leader of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), said on Saturday that the standup comedian will receive no special protection, as demanded by Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.

Raut, on Saturday, had asked the Centre to provide special protection to Kamra on the lines of that provided to Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. The actor was provided security after her rift with the Shiv Sena.

“Kangana Ranaut did nothing illegal and was provided special protection. Its not the same with Kunal Kamra. It is clear that Sanjay Raut has been in touch with the comedian. It is also clear that Kamra received Rs 4 crore in foreign funding. This goes against the Foreign Contribution Regulation (FCRA) Act. Hence, the question of providing any protection to him does not arise,” Nirupam said.

Kamra has already obtained a transit anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court. This bail – though conditional – will protect him from arrest, even in Mumbai, till April 7. He is expected to appear before the Khar police station in Mumbai on Monday, in response to two summons issued.

Three more FIRs against the performer have been registered at the Khar police station. According to an official, these were zero-FIRs registered elsewhere that were transferred to the Khar police station.

FIRs were registered by various people against Kamra for a show in which he called Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde (without actually naming him) a traitor. The FIRs also mention his other shows in which he allegedly criticised others including the Supreme Court of India.