Mumbai Police issue third summons to Kunal Kamra over Shinde remarks, asks him to appear on April 5

Mumbai Police has issued a third summons to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, directing him to appear on April 5 in connection with a case over alleged derogatory remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said.

The summons was issued on Tuesday, requiring Kamra (36) to present himself at Khar police station, where an FIR was registered against him last month.

According to officials, Kamra was previously summoned twice but did not appear for questioning.

The case relates to a parody song performed by Kamra during a Mumbai show, which seemingly targeted Shinde, referring to him as a traitor, although his name was not mentioned.

Last month, Shiv Sena activists vandalized the studio where the show had been recorded.

Following a complaint by a Sena MLA, Khar police booked Kamra under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to defamation and public mischief.

On Monday, a Khar police team visited Kamra’s Mahim residence, where his family lives, to verify whether he intended to cooperate with the investigation, officials said.

Meanwhile, on March 28, the Madras High Court granted Kamra interim anticipatory bail. Justice Sunder Mohan issued a notice to Khar police and scheduled the next hearing for April 7.