'Shocked, broken': Habitat Studio decides to shut down

Fadnavis refers to comedian as urban Naxal, Left liberal; stays mum on Sena attack on Khar studio

- Yogesh Naik, Faisal Malik and Saurabha Kulshrestha

MUMBAI: A day after Puducherry-based stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra stirred up controversy by posting a video in which he is seen seemingly taking a jibe at deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, on social media platforms X, Instagram and YouTube, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis asked for his apology, calling him a "Left liberal and urban Naxal", even as Shiv Sena protestors burnt Kamra's effigy at Tembhi Naka, Thane, Shinde's pocket borough.

Responding to queries on the issue posed by BJP and Shiv Sena legislators in the state Assembly on Monday, Fadnavis remarked, "You have freedom of expression but it cannot be used to insult anyone with low level comedy," while his junior in the Home department Yogesh Kadam, said Kamra's phone and bank records will be examined by the police "to find out if anyone was behind his act". Kadam was addressing the legislators — from both the ruling and opposition coalitions — who created ruckus on the floor of the Council which led to the session being adjourned thrice.

"There have been other complaints against Kamra as well. He has spoken against prime minister Narendra Modi and several Supreme Court judges as well. We will also investigate the transactions of funds in Kamra's bank account to find out the mastermind of this incident," said Kadam.

Several leaders from the Shinde-led Sena also threatened to rough up Kamra and blacken his face.

Kamra's video posted on Sunday (purportedly filmed in February, at Unicontinental, The Habitat, Khar) took a satirical dig at Shinde, without naming him. His references were lucid as he spoke about a minister who rose from the ranks from being an autorickshaw driver from Thane, split the Sena in 2022 to pull down the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, a "traitor who could be found hiding in Guwahati with his MLAs".

Shiv Sainiks ransacked the studio on Sunday evening.