Rahool Kanal was among 20 people booked for allegedly vandalising The Habitat standup comedy set in Mumbai, where comedian Kunal Kamra’s controversial show reportedly took place.
During his show, the comedian performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the 1997 film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai.” He apparently referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor). This angered Shinde supporters, Shiv Sainiks and the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra.
Who is Rahool Kanal?
Rahool Kanal is the Shiv Sena-Yuva Sena’s (Shinde Faction) General Secretary, news agency ANI reported. According to his LinkedIn account, he pursued his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Mumbai in 2005.
Kanal described himself as “Yuva SeVa Philanthropist, activist, and restaurateur”.
According to NDTV, Kanal was a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. He was actively associated with the Shiv Sena (undivided)’s youth wing, Yuva Sena. He was the Social Media In-Charge of Shiv Sena, the report added.
He founded the ‘I Love Mumbai’ Foundation, where he serves as President.
On Telegram, he says he is a “trustee at Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi , Core-Committee member Yuva Sena, Member of Education Committee at BMC President – I❤️Mumbai Foundation.”
Kanal, a prominent youth leader, reportedly led the attack late Sunday night in response to Kamra’s parody song.
He had threatened comedian Kunal Kamra that he would teach him a good lesson in “Shiv Sena style”.
Earlier, Rahool Kanal criticised stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his comments on Eknath Shinde, saying, “Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai.”
“Anybody says anything derogatory about our senior leader, our elders then we will not spare them,” he said.
News agency ANI reported recently that an FIR has also been registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena’s (Shinde Faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others for allegedly vandalising The Habitat standup comedy set in Mumbai. Eleven people have been arrested in this case.
