Kunal Kamra show row: BMC demolishes illegal portions of Habitat Club even as studio shuts down temporarily

Mumbai: Amid the major political row involving the ruling MahaYuti-NDA and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-INDIA over Kunal Kamra’s ‘gaddar’ jibe against Eknath Shinde and ransacking of The Habitat by Shiv Sainiks, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation’s demolition squad hit the streets with hammers and razed the illegal portions of the studio, considered a abode of stand-up comedians.

The 36-year-old Kunal Kamra now faces FIRs, threats, investigation of phone records and scanning of financial data.

Shinde has not commented on the remarks against him.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister, made it clear that Kunal Kamra, who has a history of making derogatory remarks, would have to apologise.

“A legal action will be taken according to the law, Kunal Kamra should apologise,” Fadnavis said.

Kunal Kamra, whose whereabouts are unknown, has reportedly refused to apologise and told the Mumbai police that he would tender an apology if the court asks. However, there is no independent confirmation of his talk with the cops.

The parody song

The parody of Bollywood hit "Dil toh Pagal Hai” hit song “bholi si surat, aankhon me masti” which was used as “Thane ki rickshaw, face pe beard, eyes pe chashma... hai, haaye...ek jhalak dikhlae kabhi, Guwahati mein chhip jaye..…meri nazar se tum dekho toh gaddar nazar wo aaye…hai…haaye…” - has not gone down well among the followers of Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena and Deputy CM.

The parody song refereed to Shinde as a “rickshawallah” from “Thane district” and called him a traitor who had “stolen someone's father," vis-a-vis the rift in the Shiv Sena party in 2022 and claiming the legacy of late Balasaheb Thackeray.

Kamra’s show ‘Naya Bharat’ was recorded in The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai - and after it went viral Shiv Sainiks ransacked it on Sunday night.

Habitat shuts down

Announcing the decision to temporarily shut down, The Habitat 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 freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers' rights”. The studio, owned by Balraj Singh Ghai was in news a few weeks ago because of derogatory remarks by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia on Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent show sparked headlines.

BMC team out

A team of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation too visited the studio amid allegations that it was illegal.

The BMC squad removed the illegal alterations and sheds. “The studio owner has constructed some temporary illegal sheds, which we are now removing. This does not require any notice,” said BMC Assistant Municipal Commissioner Vinayak Vispute.

Earlier, state Transport Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik spoke to BMC’s Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani and pointed out that the studio was illegal.

Issue rocks legislature

The issue rocked the Maharashtra Legislature on Monday with the ruling MahaYuti-NDA demanding action against Kamra.

Speaking in Assembly, Fadnavis said “Urban Naxals" and "Left liberals" supporting such acts will be taught a lesson.

"Kunal Kamra has displayed the same red-colour Constitution book often shown by (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi. Both of them have not read the Constitution,” Fadnavis told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex at Nariman Point in Mumbai.

“There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologize. This will not be tolerated. There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Shinde purposely, it is not right,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister.

Uddhav Thackeray hits out at Shinde

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), however has come out in support of Kamra. "I don't think Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling 'gaddar', a 'gaddar' is not an attack on anyone...Hear the full song (from Kunal Kamra's show) and make others hear it too...Shiv Sena has nothing to do with this attack, this has been done by 'gaddar sena'...Those who have 'gaddari' in their blood can never be a Shiv Sainik,” said Thackeray, the former CM, whose Maha Vikas Aghadi was toppled by Shinde.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged that there was "gunda raj" in the state capital and said Fadnavis was incapable of handling the Home department. “The government should recover the damages to the studio from those who vandalised it,” he said.

In a related development, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal and 19 others were arrested for vandalising The Habitat.

“Nobody should go beyond the law, Constitution, and rules. They should express themselves within their rights," Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said.