Comedian Kunal Kamra tells Mumbai Police he won’t apologise for his ‘gaddar’ remark aimed at Eknath Shinde unless directed by the court, dismisses political payment claims and denies regrets.
March 24, 2025: Mumbai:
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has told the Mumbai Police that he does not regret his controversial “gaddar” (traitor) comment—widely interpreted as a jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde—and added that he would only apologise if a court mandates it.
This comes after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded an apology in the Assembly, declaring that “freedom of expression does not mean low-level comedy targeting a Deputy CM.”
According to police sources, Kamra—currently in Tamil Nadu—firmly denied allegations that he was paid by any political party to attack Mr. Shinde. He reportedly offered full access to his financial records to verify that no such payment was received.
Earlier today, the Mumbai civic body began demolishing the Habitat Studio in Khar, where Kamra’s comedy special was filmed. This came less than 24 hours after Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers vandalised the venue, with videos surfacing of the mob damaging property and throwing chairs.
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Studio owners clarified that they were not responsible for Kamra’s comments and decided to temporarily shut down operations, citing safety concerns. “We are shutting down until we figure out how to continue supporting free expression without risking our property or safety,” the statement read.
The entire controversy erupted after Kamra used the term “gaddar” in a show, interpreted as a reference to Eknath Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray. The move had split the Shiv Sena and led to the formation of a new government in alliance with the BJP.
The backlash from the ruling alliance included multiple FIRs and police complaints, including one from Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. However, opposition leaders have condemned the state’s reaction.
Aaditya Thackeray called Mr. Shinde an “insecure coward”, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi stated that Kamra never explicitly named Shinde in the act. “Their reaction shows they were hurt because there was some truth in the joke. If you’re offended, file a complaint—not vandalise,” she said.
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Kunal Kamra, Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra politics, stand-up comedy controversy, Kunal Kamra joke, Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai Police, Habitat Studio, Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray, free speech India, political satire India, comedy crackdown, Mumbai news, gaddar remark row