'Will Welcome Him In Good Shiv Sena Style': Rahool Kanal To Kunal Kamra Over Remarks On Eknath Shinde
This came after the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra until April 7 with conditions in several complaints filed against him concerning a remark on Eknath Shinde.
After Kunal Kamra was granted anticipatory bail for his controversial remark on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena’s (Shinde faction) Yuva Sena leader Rahool Kanal said the comedian had nothing to worry about and he will be welcomed in “good Shiv Sena style" when he enters Maharashtra.
Soon after Kamra sparked a massive row by calling Eknath Shinde a “gaddar" (traitor), enraged Shiv Sena workers led by Kanal vandalised the Habitat studio in Mumbai and demanded strict action against him. Kanal was among several workers arrested by Mumbai police for the attack and was granted bail the same day.
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On Friday, the comedian-activist was granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court in several complaints filed against him until April 7 with conditions. He had claimed that he was receiving threats, and that he was a resident of Tamil Nadu since moving from Mumbai in 2021.
Reacting to the court’s order, Kanal told news agency ANI, “We welcome the Court’s verdict that gives him relief, but it is only until April 7. He should come and face the law. No matter what protection he has there (Tamil Nadu), he will be welcomed in a good ‘Shiv Sena Style’ whenever he comes to Mumbai."
Kanal said it was not a threat before cryptically adding, “Mumbai has this culture of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and he considers himself a guest here (in Mumbai) now. There is nothing to be scared of, he should follow the procedure and face the law."
#WATCH | Maharashtra | Comedian Kunal Kamra row | Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal says, “Following the procedure of law, (Shiv Sena) Yuva Sena members come to the police station for attendance every Monday and Thursday. We welcome the Court’s… pic.twitter.com/Rfl9AHMmSL— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2025
Meanwhile, Kamra has refused to apologise since the controversy. “Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich, even though today’s media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right," he said.
Notably, Kunal Kamra has been called twice for questioning by the Khar Police; however, he has not appeared yet. Three more cases have been filed against him over his controversial statement in his new “Naya Bharat" video.
During his show, Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and labelled Eknath Shinde a “traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song ‘Bholi Si Surat’, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, “Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!"
Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to the song ‘Bholi Si Surat’, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, “Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" Since then, the comedian has received over 500 threat calls from Shiv Sena workers.
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