Comedian Kunal Kamra on Wednesday apologised to his audience for the inconvenience caused to them by the controversy his recent Mumbai show sparked. He also offered to schedule a vacation for one of the audience members, a banker, whose recent vacation to Kerala and Tamil Nadu was cut short when the Mumbai Police summoned him to the city for an interrogation.
"I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience that attending my show has caused to you. Please email me so that I can schedule your next vacation anywhere you’d like in India," Kamra wrote.
According to a report by the Times of India, the 46-year-old banker from Kharghar got "repeated" calls and was also issued a notice on March 29 under Section 179 of CrPC, requesting his presence.
The case stems from a video titled 'Naya Bharat' released online on March 24. In the episode, Kamra alluded to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as 'gaddar' (traitor), which triggered at least a dozen Shiv Sainiks to vandalise the Habitat studio. The Shiv Sena also filed a complaint against Kamra.
"I had left Mumbai on March 21 for the trip and was supposed to return on April 6. But I returned midway after repeated calls from the police while I was in Tamil Nadu. The officer who called me was skeptical about my out-my-town status and threatened to visit my Kharghar residence. This prompted me to cut short my trip and return early," the banker told the publication.
"Despite me saying that I had booked a ticket for the show online and that I had proof of booking, the cops said I might have edited the video Kamra has recorded. Why will the comedian hand over his show's video to me (for editing)?" he added.
No notices issued to audience who attended Kunal Kamra's show: Mumbai Police
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police told news agency PTI that no notices have been issued to audience members who attended Kamra's show. They added that the banker was summoned as a witness after a case was registered against the comedian over his alleged jibes against Shinde.
The police reportedly told the banker later that his presence was not needed immediately.
Before sending him a notice, the investigating officer had called the banker and asked him to visit the Khar police station, the official added. But later, after certain developments in the case, the police called the banker again and told him that his appearance was not required immediately, the officer said, adding he could be called whenever his statement was necessary, PTI reported.
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