Rahool Kanal and Sena Workers Arrested for Vandalizing Habitat Studio Over Kunal Kamra’s ‘Gaddar’ Joke

Rahool Kanal, a leader of the Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), along with 11 other party workers, was arrested for vandalizing Mumbai’s Habitat Studio. The attack came in response to comedian Kunal Kamra’s controversial joke about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kanal insisted that the incident was not premeditated but rather a spontaneous reaction triggered by the studio owner’s alleged misbehavior.

According to Kanal, he and the Sena workers visited the studio to discuss the matter, but the studio’s owner, Balraj, allegedly “misbehaved” with them, which escalated tensions. Mumbai Police detained 12 Shiv Sainiks, including Kanal, for the attack on the studio where Kamra’s performance was filmed and the hotel where it is located. However, they were granted bail within hours.

Kanal’s Defense: “We Didn’t Intend to Attack”

Kanal claimed he personally knew comedians like Kunal Kamra and Munawar Faruqui and generally supported artists. However, after watching Kamra’s controversial video, he and his associates decided to confront the studio’s management for clarification.

“I know all these artistes, including Kamra and Munawar (Faruqui). I have always supported artists. But after watching the video, we reached out to Balraj to ask about the show. However, he was dismissive and misbehaved with us,”

He alleged that Balraj was “arrogant and rude” and refused to engage with them constructively.

“He said he rents out the place and doesn’t care who performs or what they say. He was extremely arrogant and rude,” Kanal claimed.

Denying that the attack was planned in advance, Kanal maintained that they initially only intended to talk.

“We had no intention of vandalizing the venue. We went there just to talk, but his response triggered the situation, and things got out of hand in the heat of the moment,” he explained.

New Complaint Against Kunal Kamra

Following the incident, Kanal lodged another complaint against Kunal Kamra at the Khar police station on Thursday. He requested an investigation into the comedian’s YouTube channel’s financial transactions, alleging that the funds appeared “irregular” and could indicate unlawful activity.

Who Is Rahool Kanal?

Rahool Kanal was formerly a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and actively participated in the party’s youth wing, Yuva Sena. However, in July 2023, he defected to the Eknath Shinde faction and has been a key figure in its political activities since.

A well-known figure in Bandra, Kanal is a restaurateur with strong Bollywood connections. He owns Bhaijaanz, a Bandra-based restaurant named after Salman Khan, and runs the NGO ‘I Love Mumbai.’ He was also a trustee of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

His association with the undivided Shiv Sena began with Yuva Sena, where he was an active member for over a decade before aligning with Shinde’s faction.

The ‘Gaddar’ Joke That Sparked the Backlash

The controversy erupted after Kunal Kamra’s stand-up performance at the Habitat Comedy Club inside the Unicontinental Hotel in Khar. During his act, Kamra allegedly referred to Eknath Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor) and sang a parody mocking him.

This joke provoked anger among Shinde-aligned Sena workers, ultimately leading to the vandalism at the studio and subsequent legal action.