Kunal Kamra on Friday denied seeking an adjournment of the Privileges Committee of the Maharashtra Legislative Council over his alleged remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He claimed that the hearing scheduled for February 5 was adjourned by the panel itself.
The committee summoned stand-up comedian and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare for allegedly making offensive remarks against Shinde. Committee chairman and BJP MLC Prasad Lad had earlier said that the two were asked to appear at 2 pm on February 5 but expressed their inability to attend, after which the hearing was postponed to February 17, news channel PTI reported.
What did Kunal Kamra say?
But Kunal Kamra claimed that he did not ask for any adjournment of the matter.
“As has been widely reported, the Maharashtra State Legislature has initiated breach of privilege proceedings against me. In this regard, I note that the media has published reports that I have sought an adjournment of the Privileges Committee of the Maharashtra Legislative Council before which I was asked to depose on February 5, 2026,” Kamra wrote on X.
Describing media reports that he had sought an adjournment as “incorrect”, Kamra said:
“I was asked to appear before the Privileges Committee on February 5. The summons dated January 23 was not served on me until January 29,” Kamra said in a detailed post. He added that he agreed to attend the hearing and sent an email to the committee on January 30 confirming his attendance along with his lawyer.
The stand-up comedian also claimed that he had traveled to Mumbai on Wednesday but received a call from a Vidhan Sabha official later in the evening informing him that the hearing had been adjourned. “A letter confirming the adjournment followed. It is clear from the committee’s letter that the adjournment was not requested at my request,” he wrote.
He further stated that he had not been formally informed of the date of the next hearing, although media reports indicated that it would be held on February 17.
“It is in the interest of justice that the record be corrected and it is clear that no adjournment was sought at my instance and that I remain willing to cooperate with the proceedings,” Kamra said.
The comedian also raised concerns about confidentiality, noting that while all communications from the committee said the proceedings were confidential, the notices appear to have been leaked to the media. He claimed that the chairman of the committee had publicly commented on the matter.
What is the controversy?
BJP MLC Pravin Darekar filed a breach of privilege notice against Kamra and Andhar for making “derogatory remarks” against Shiv Sena leader Shinde, whose party is part of the BJP-led Mahayuti.
Breach of privilege means when any person disregards or undermines the rights and immunities of members of Parliament or the legislature.
What joke did Kamra make?
Last year, Kunal Kamra courted controversy by calling Deputy CM Eknath Shinde of Maharashtra a “traitor” during an appearance.
The comedian used an adapted version of a Hindi song from the film “Dil To Pagal Hai” to describe Shinde’s rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022 during his performance at the “Unicontinental Mumbai” hotel in Mumbai’s Khar area.
Committee chairman Lad told reporters on Wednesday that Kamra had informed the committee about his inability to travel to Mumbai for the first mandatory hearing. “Kunal Kamra announced his inability to appear today. He has now been deposed before the committee on February 17,” PTI quoted Lada as saying.
The committee also adjourned the hearing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare and NCP (SP) worker Suryakant More.
