Subhechcha Ganguly 
A Navi Mumbai-based banking professional had to cut short his 17-day trip to Tamil Nadu and Kerala after receiving a notice from the Mumbai Police to appear for questioning in a defamation case against comedian Kunal Kamra, The Times of India reported.
The banker, who was scheduled to return on April 6, came back early on Monday after receiving a call from the police on March 28, followed by a notice via WhatsApp the next day. The notice, issued under Section 179 of the CrPC, required him to appear on March 30. He claimed police were skeptical about his travel and even threatened to visit his Kharghar residence, prompting his early return.
Despite stating that he had booked a ticket for the show online and had proof, he alleged police questioned whether he had edited Kamra’s video.
However, Mumbai Police later clarified, as per a PTI report, that no audience members were summoned for questioning.
Kamra’s stand-up special Naya Bharat, released on YouTube on March 24, led to protests by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers, who vandalized the show’s venue over a song allegedly referring to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as a “traitor.”
So far, three cases have been filed against Kamra, who has been granted interim relief from arrest by the Madras High Court. The police are currently recording statements from the cameraperson and staff involved in filming the special while ensuring Kamra’s safety when he appears for questioning.
