New Delhi: Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), an international organisation promoting the right to artistic freedom across the world, has called on Mumbai Police to drop the charges filed against comedian Kunal Kamra.
The organisation has also urged the authorities to prosecute the perpetrators who attacked The Habitat Comedy Club. The prominent cultural venue was vandalised by members of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) on 23 March, shortly after which the municipal authorities arrived to demolish part of the venue. The venue has closed indefinitely.
ARC, in its statement, highlighted that following the release of Kamra’s most recent performance on YouTube, he was summoned for police interrogation and later charged with defamation when an FIR was lodged against him on the basis of a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel.
Subsequently, three more FIRs were lodged against him on the basis of complaints by party members Mayur Borse, Sanjay Bhujbal and Sunil Jadhav.
“ARC is deeply concerned about state-enabled reprisals against artists and cultural spaces, and calls on Indian authorities to ensure that freedom of artistic expression is protected,” the statement read.
Julie Trébault, ARC’s executive director, called the “coordinated targeting” of comedian Kamra and The Habitat by the state authorities a “dangerous assault” on artistic freedom in India.
“The criminalisation of comedy and the deliberate destruction of independent cultural spaces are a clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression and cultural rights under international law,” she said, adding that such “repressive tactics” stand in stark contrast to India’s democratic values and “must be unequivocally condemned and halted”.
In the statement, ARC further said that Kamra is well-known in the Indian stand-up comedy scene, with clips of his performances garnering millions of views on social media. “He has faced challenges before over his comedy, with entertainment and political figures complaining and even suing him following their being referenced in his shows.”
Moreover, the statement said that The Habitat has faced “attacks” since its opening in 2016, adding that the venue has announced its temporary closure on Instagram. The ARC highlighted The Habitat’s statement, which said: “We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.”
Also Read: Kunal Kamra fights back. His weapon of choice: parody song featuring vandalism by Shiv Sainiks
Past controversies
Currently, Kamra faces five FIRs in Maharashtra for allegedly calling Shinde a gaddar (or traitor) in a parody song that he performed at The Habitat. This, however, is not the first time that Kamra has courted controversy.
Back in 2020, Kamra had tweeted a picture of himself holding up his fingers, while in an aircraft. He had written: “One of these 2 fingers is for [then] CJI [Chief Justice of India] Arvind Bobde… ok let me not confuse you it’s the middle one.”
In another instance, he had posted a picture of a morphed, saffron-coloured Supreme Court and replaced the national flag with that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Responding to the latest action by the government, Kamra shared a satirical post on X titled: “How to kill an artist ‘democratically’”. In the “step-by-step” guide, Kamra wrote how outrage can be used to stop artists from expressing.
How to kill an Artist “Democratically” pic.twitter.com/9ESc9MZfWr
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) April 1, 2025
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
Also Read: ‘Gaddar’ row: Kunal Kamra granted anticipatory bail by Madras High Court