'Did what we were supposed to do': 12 arrested Sena workers on vandalising Mumbai studio where Kunal Kamra performed

Rahool Kanal was arrested for vandalising Habitat studio after comedian Kunal Kamra's controversial joke

The Mumbai police arrested 12 members of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for allegedly ransacking The Habitat studio after video clips of comedian Kunal Kamra’s alleged “gaddar” jibe against the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister went viral.

The police have reportedly charged them under sections 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 324(5), 324(6), 223, 351(2), 352, 333, 37(1), and 135 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Here are details of all those who were arrested, according to Indian Express.

Rahool Kanal

Yuva Sena functionary Rahool Kanal was once close to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray after the latter set up the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the then undivided Shiv Sena, in 2010. However, Kanal quit the Sena (UBT) in July 2023, expressing his resentment over the functioning of Aaditya and switched to Shinde’s party. He led the group of Sena workers who vandalised the studio.

“I know all these artists, including Kamra and Munnawar (Faruqui). I am someone who always supports artists. But when we saw the video, we initially contacted Balraj and enquired about the show. However, he did not talk to us properly and misbehaved. He said he rents out the place and does not care who does what after that. He was very arrogant and rude,” Kanal told Indian Express.

He clarified that the group had no intention of vandalising the property.

“We had no intention to vandalise. We went there just to talk, but the response we got there triggered it and it happened in the heat of the moment … Had we planned it, we would have carried something with us (to vandalise). But we had nothing, not even our party flag. The point is it was not pre-planned,” said Kanal.

Kunal Sarmalkar

He has been long associated with Kanal and the Bandra East vibhag pramukh of the Sena. He is also the president of workers’ unions Navik General Kamgar Sena and Vidyut General Kamgar Sena; the general secretary of the Airport Aviation Employment Union; and a member of the Mumbai Suburban district planning committee.

Akshay Panvelkar

Panvelkar joined Shinde’s party in 2023. He subsequently made the party in-charge for the North Central Mumbai Lok Sabha seat and handled party affairs in the area.

Vilas Chawari

Chawari was a corporator of the undivided Shiv Sena from Mumbai’s 99th ward between 2007 and 2012.  Chawari joined the Shinde side in 2023.

Rahul Turbadkar

Tubadkar is a long-time associate of Kanal. At present, he is the Shiv Sena ward president of Khar West. He was previously the secretary of a local workers’ union.

Govind alias Paddy

He is Kanal’s personal assistant and point of contact for those who want to get in touch with the Sena leader.

Amin Shaikh

Shaikh is the Sena shakha pramukh for ward number 98. He told The Indian Express that they did what they were “supposed to do” and had “no remorse”.

Sameer Mahapadi

Sameer is a member of the Yuva Sena and is a follower of Kanal and Sarmalkar.

Shobha Palve

She is a Sena shakha pramukh and joined Shinde along with her supporters in 2023.

Shashank Kode

Kode is the husband of a Sena shakha pramukh in the Bandra-Khar area and has been a staunch supporter of Shinde for several years.

Sandeep Malap

He joined Shinde’s party in 2023.

Ganesh Rane

Rane, a resident of Khar, is associated with the Yuva Sena and is a follower of Kanal.