Comedian Kunal Kamra has been summoned to appear before the privileges committee of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Feb. 17 over remarks allegedly targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, local media reported on Wednesday.
The summons follows a breach of privilege motion moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Pravin Darekar in March, accusing Kamra of mocking Shinde and insulting the state legislature. A separate notice was also issued against Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sushma Andhare for allegedly supporting the comedian’s remarks.
Prasad Lad, a BJP member of the Legislative Council who heads the committee, said notices were issued to Kamra and Andhare about 15 days ago, asking them to depose before the panel. Kamra later informed the committee that he would be unable to travel to Mumbai for the scheduled hearing and was subsequently asked to appear on Feb. 17, according to The Indian Express.
Andhare’s hearing was also rescheduled after she told the panel she was engaged in campaigning for Zilla Parishad elections. She has likewise been summoned for Feb. 17.
The case stems from a video posted by Kamra on his YouTube channel on March 23, in which he performed a satirical version of a Hindi film song that appeared to criticise Shinde over his 2022 rebellion against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Kamra did not name Shinde directly but referred to him as a “traitor”.
After clips from the performance circulated widely on social media, members of the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena vandalised The Habitat comedy studio in Mumbai’s Khar area, where the video was recorded.
Mumbai Police subsequently registered a case against Kamra under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to defamation and public mischief.