Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: A banking professional from Kharghar in Navi Mumbai was forced to cut short his vacation in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after receiving a notice from Mumbai Police in connection with the defamation case against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. The notice, sent under Section 179 of the CrPC, asked him to appear for questioning as a witness, reportedly suggesting he might have tampered with Kamra’s video footage.
According to a report by The Times of India, the banker had left Mumbai on March 21 for a 17-day trip and was scheduled to return on April 6. However, he came back early on April 1 after police began contacting him on March 28, followed by a WhatsApp notice on March 29, summoning him for questioning on March 30. “The officer who called me was sceptical about my out-of-town status and threatened to visit my Kharghar residence,” he told TOI.
Despite showing proof of booking his ticket online for the show, the man claimed that police questioned whether he had edited the video of Kamra’s performance. “Why will the comedian hand over his show’s video to me for editing?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police on Tuesday denied reports that audience members were being issued notices in connection with the ongoing case. According to PTI, a senior police officer confirmed that no member of the audience had been summoned for inquiry.
The controversy stems from Kamra’s YouTube special Naya Bharat, released on March 24. The show triggered outrage from Shiv Sena workers aligned with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, particularly over a segment in which Kamra allegedly referred to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor). The backlash led to vandalism at the venue where the show was filmed.
So far, three FIRs have been filed against the comedian, and Kamra has been granted interim protection from arrest by the Madras High Court. The police have also begun recording statements from the cameraperson and other staff involved in the recording of the show. Authorities have assured they will ensure Kamra’s safety during his appearance for questioning.
