(Image source from: Indiatvnews.com)

In response to the escalating political backlash against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's recent comments directed at Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, workers from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took action on Monday by arriving at Mumbai's Habitat Studio and commencing the demolition of sections of the venue, citing violations of regulations. The specific details surrounding these supposed infractions were not fully disclosed, as BMC officials had not provided concrete information as of the time this report was prepared. Nonetheless, multiple officials from the civic body were observed entering the premises, situated within the Unicontinental Hotel in the Khar locality, armed with hammers.

The situation escalated when Kamra, recognized for his incisive critiques of the current government, utilized a parody of a well-known Hindi song to jest about Shinde's rebellion in 2022 against his then-leader, Uddhav Thackeray. In a clip shared by Kamra, he was filmed performing a humorous rendition from the Bollywood movie Dil To Pagal Hai, alluding to "a leader from Thane," while making comments about Shinde's appearance and his relationship with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, Shinde's name was not explicitly mentioned in the footage. This clip ignited significant controversy, leading to disorder as reactions intensified. Members from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) were incensed by Kamra's remarks and proceeded to vandalize a studio and the Hotel Unicontinental in Khar on Sunday, asserting that the video had been filmed at this site.

In addition, 11 individuals associated with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), including Rahul Kanal, were apprehended for their involvement in the vandalism. Following the uproar, Kamra briefly addressed the situation with a succinct post consisting of just four words: “The only way forward," accompanied by an image of himself holding a mini version of the Constitution, shared on X.