Kunal Kamra asked to appear before Mumbai police on March 31 amid row over remarks on Shinde

Comedian Kunal Kamra

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra have been asked by Mumbai police to appear for questioning on March 31 amid the row surrounding his alleged jokes on Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

According to reports, Kamra requested time until April 2 but the police denied it and insisted on his presence on March 31  by 11 am.

At a recent show shot in Mumbai, Kamra had made some  alleged comments on Eknath Shinde without using his name. He also made a parody of the song "Bholi si surat" from the 1997 movie "Dil To Pagal Hai".

The song also had a mention of  "gaddar" (traitor), which was seen as a reference to Mr Shinde splitting the Shiv Sena in 2022 and joining hands with the BJP. This has lead to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra.

After  Kamra's show was posted on YouTube, Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Habitat Comedy Club where the comedian had performed. The police had arrested 12 people affiliated with the Sena, who were later released on bail.  Kamra said the studio or any political party was not responsible for his remarks. "Attacking a venue for a comedian's words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you didn't like the butter chicken you were served," he said on X.

Shinde has alleged that Kamra targeted him as part of a "supari" (contract) given to the comedian.