Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Rahool N Kanal was reportedly taken into custody for vandalising a venue where comedian Kunal Kamra had made a controversial remark about Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Alongside Kanal, an FIR was also lodged against Shiv Sena’s youth wing general secretary and 19 others for their involvement in the attack on the premises of The Habitat in Khar.
Have a look at the video here:
Studio Announces Temporary Closure In Official Statement
The Habitat management took to social media on March 24 to express their distress over the incident, stating, "Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices." They further mentioned that they have never interfered with performances but often face backlash as a proxy for performers. Following the attack, the venue announced a temporary closure, explaining, “We will be shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.”
Have a look at their entire statement here:
What Exactly Happened?
A large number of Shiv Sena supporters allegedly stormed Hotel Unicontinental, which houses The Habitat Studio, and ransacked the hotel and studio space. Known for hosting politically charged content such as 'India’s Got Latent,' the studio has often been a site of controversy. The MIDC police registered a case against Kamra under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to public mischief and defamation, with investigations currently ongoing.
The dispute intensified after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared a video of Kamra’s remarks on social media. The clip showed Kamra modifying a Hindi song to target Shinde, eliciting laughter from the audience. In response, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske accused Kamra of receiving payment from Uddhav Thackeray to attack Shinde. Additionally, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel demanded an apology from Kamra, while Aaditya Thackeray criticized the vandalism, questioning the state’s law and order situation.
