JOIN USComedy show snowballs into major controversy
The AIB Knockout comedy show is turning into a major controversy with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assuring that action will be initiated if any wrongdoing comes to light.
“We will look into the issue and if anything wrong is found, action would be taken,” Fadnavis told reporters on Tuesday.
The Mumbai Police registered an FIR based on a complaint by activist Akhilesh Tiwari, president of Brahman Ekta Seva Sanstha, against “The AIB Knockout: The Roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh” held on January 20 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium here.
Filmmaker Karan Johar, who conducted the show, and actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor have come under severe criticism.
“I support the Maharashtra government’s inquiry into AIB, a porn show…was the script of the AIB, which was a stage play, approved by authorities who approve plays? Did the police give permission to AIB even after they knew what ‘B’ stands for?” said filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, also member of the Censor Board.
Maharashtra Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, however, said that the government would probe whether “performance license” had been taken for the show from the authorities.
“We are not for moral policing. Will only enquire if the AIB had taken appropriate certificate. No moral policing if they are allowed by law, I can’t stop them,” he later tweeted.
Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Jitendra Awhad said that the show was like “putting culture to auction”. “If the government cannot stop it, we will stop it,” he said.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Sena (MNCS), which is affiliated to the MNS, said that they will not allow Karan Johar to release his movies and also those in which Singh and Kapoor have acted, unless they apologise.
“What kind of message are we sending out?” said MNCS president Ameya Khopkar.