MUMBAI: Onling ticketing platform BookMyShow has removed all content related to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and taken him off the artists list on its platforms, Shiv Sena functionary Rahool Kanal said on Saturday even as Kamra failed to appear for questioning before the Khar police in response to the third notice sent by them on April 1.
After Kanal, the social media in-charge of the Dy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, thanked BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani for keeping its portal “clean and keeping such artist out of the list of pure entertainment,” Kamra posted on X, “Hello @bookmyshow can you please confirm if I have your platform to list my shows if not it’s fine. I understand.”
When contacted, BookMyShow team said they have no comments to offer as of now.
“I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of your team to take the said artist out of your sale and promotion listing, thank you for even taking him out of the bookmyshow search history. Your belief in maintaining peace and at the same time respecting our emotions has been instrumental,” Kanal stated in a letter to Hemrajani.
Following his YouTube show ‘Naya Bharat’ aired on March 24, where he allegedly referred to Dy CM Shinde as “gaddar” without naming him, five FIRs and one NC were registered against the comedian. Kanal and 11 other Shiv Sainiks were arrested for vandalizing Habitat Studio at Unicontinental Hotel in Khar and later granted bail.
The initial FIR against Kamra was filed following Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel’s complaint regarding alleged defamatory comments about Shinde during a performance. The show, recorded on Feb 2, had 70 attendees. Kamra got relief from arrest from the Madras high court, which has scheduled the hearing on his interim pre-arrest bail plea for April 7.
The Khar police, who contacted audience members to record their statements, later clarified their approach was routine procedure rather than intimidation. “We are not compelling anyone. We are documenting statements from those who respond to our calls. We await the Madras court’s decision on April 7 regarding Kamra’s interim bail application. We have issued three notices to him and await his response through his legal representative,”the police stated.
