'Picture abhi baki hai...': Yuva Sena leader warns Kunal Kamra after FIR over comedy set vandalism

Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal on Monday sent a strong message to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra over his comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kanal said, "Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai" (This is just the trailer; the full film is yet to come).

He explained that their reaction was not about taking the law into their own hands but about "self-respect". "When it comes to elders or respectable citizens of the country... when your elders are targeted, you will target someone of that mentality... The message (for Kunal Kamra) is clear, 'Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai.' Whenever you are in Mumbai, you will get a good lesson in Shiv Sena style," Kanal added.

FIR Against Kanal and Party Workers

After an FIR was filed against Kanal and 19 others for allegedly vandalising the Habitat standup comedy set in Mumbai, Kanal responded strongly. He said, "We had complained, we had also called the owner (of the Habitat set) and told him that there had been 6 FIRs against this place in the past... Our message for Kunal Kamra is that we will teach him a lesson for what he did, but this is a paid conspiracy, and the Mumbai police is capable of exposing it."

According to Sub-Inspector Vijay of Khar police station, members of the Shinde Sena's youth faction entered the venue during a live show by stand-up comedian Rajat Sood. They allegedly forced the show to end and vandalised the set.

Legal Action Taken

An FIR has been registered under Sections 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 324(5), 324(6), 223, 351(2), 352, 333, 37(1), and 135 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023. It also includes sections 37(1) and 135 under the Maharashtra Police Act.

This incident occurred as Shinde Sena leaders objected to Kamra's new stand-up special, alleging that it "mocked" Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Inputs from TOI