Following controversy over comedian Kunal Kamra's comments and recent vandalism at Habitat studio, Mumbai's municipal commission has begun demolishing the illegal section of the Habitat studio in Khar. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) visited the site today to start the demolition. Although the specific rule violations are not yet clear, sources told a news portal that the studio is located in an encroached area between two hotels.

In response to intense backlash over Kamra’s remarks about Eknath Shinde, the Mumbai Habitat studio's management announced it would be closing down. Members of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) vandalized the studio in protest, leading to the arrest of 12 protesters.

In a social media post, the studio expressed, "We are shocked, worried, and heartbroken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us."

They continued, "Artists are responsible for their own views and creative choices. We have never controlled what any artist performs, but recent events have made us question why we are blamed and targeted as if we were the artist."

"We are shutting down until we can find a safer way to support free expression without risking our safety and property. We invite all artists, audiences, and stakeholders to share their views and help us respect the rights of performers," the post read.

About the controversy

During his performance at The Unicontinental Mumbai in Khar, Kamra called Shinde a "traitor" and used a modified Hindi song from the Bollywood movie ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ to criticize Shinde's 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray.

After the vandalism incident, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed a police complaint against the comedian, demanding an apology within two days. This came after party workers damaged the hotel and studio.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also demanded an apology, warning that such comments would not be accepted under free speech and that legal action would follow. “Eknath Shinde ji has been insulted, and this will not be tolerated. The elections have shown us who the traitors are. No stand-up comedian should have the right to label such a prominent leader as a traitor," he stated.

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