An FIR has been registered against comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly making insulting comments regarding Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his latest stand-up special, "Naya Bharat."
The complaint was filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, and the FIR was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act.
As a reaction to Kamra's act, which involved a spoof calling Shinde a "gaddar" (traitor), about 40 members of the Shiv Sena youth wing, headed by General Secretary Rahool Kanal, ransacked the Habitat Studio in Mumbai where the show was hosted. The attack was made on March 23, 2025, while another comedian, Rajat Sood, was doing a live performance. The attack made the show stop and there was extensive damage to the building.
The authorities have prosecuted the vandals under different sections for illegal assembly and public mischief.
After the incident, Habitat Studio declared itself to be temporarily shut down, condemning the act of vandalism while highlighting the need for free expression by artists.
The scandal has ignited debates regarding freedom of speech in India, with some political leaders defending Kamra's freedom to speak his mind while others criticized his statements as insulting.
While investigations are ongoing, Kamra and the Shiv Sena workers are under legal scrutiny amidst a larger debate regarding artistic freedom and political critique in the nation.
