Months after Shiv Sena workers vandalised Mumbai comedy venue The Habitat, owner Balraj Singh Ghai was spotted at Lalbaugcha Raja with Shiv Sena’s Rahool Kanal (who had claimed responsibility for the attack) and comedian Samay Raina. Kanal and his men had taken offence to some indirect references made by Kunal Kamra to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his special Naya Bharat filmed at The Habitat. Kamra reacted to this recent clip on the latest episode his YouTube series Khabr-e-Azam alongside comedian Suhel Khan and Sunil Sharma (better known as ROFL Gandhi on Twitter).

The clip came up during Kamra’s reaction series where he gives his takes on viral clips and news of the week alongside other comedians and content creators. Kamra goes on to play a clip in which Kanal claims that the venue drew his ire because Ghai spoke rudely with him. “Jisne toda woh toh yeh nahi bol raha hai ki meri [Kamra] ki wajah se toota, (The one who broke the venue is not saying that it was done because of me)” Kamra says.

On the contrary, Kanal threatened Kamra in the aftermath of the controversy. “Whenever you [Mr Kamra] are in Mumbai, you will get a good lesson in Shiv Sena style,” he had said.

Kamra also alleges that on the day of the recording he had suggested they hide the famous Habitat logo due to which it was easy for the Shiv Sena workers to discern where the special was shot. “Kala parda laga do. Mereko pata hai material mera kaisa hai. Main venue ko koi dikkat nahi dena chahta hoon, (Put up a black curtain. I know what kind of material I have. I don’t want to cause the venue in any trouble)” he says he told Ghai.

Kamra also alleges that Ghai said “manage kar lenge, yaar” when he suggested to safeguard his venue. He also says that the venue owner was present at two-three of his shows, a claim that is corroborated by Sunil Sharma. “Poora has-has ke taali baja raha [Ghai] tha. Bol raha tha ki maja aa gaya aur kisi mein himmat nahi hai yeh sab karne ki, (He was laughing and clapping his hands. He said that he had a lot of fun and nobody has the confidence to do something like this)” says Sharma.

Kamra also alleges that he once again warned Ghai before uploading the special, asking him if he was sure he wanted his venue to be credited. “Arre nahi, kuch nahi hoga, (Nothing will happen)” Ghai allegedly told Kamra. But on the night of the vandalism Ghai reached out to Kamra and asked him to apologise which he refused to do.

“Yeh [Ghai] jo abhi isse [Kanal] mil raha hai woh mere liye nahi mil raha hai. Woh apne liye mil raha hai,” Kamra says in the video. “Logon ko aisa lagega ki main wapis Habitat pe perform kar pau isliye mil raha hai. Aisa kuch nahi hai. Agar kisi ka venue hai, fire safety nahi hai, upar electric connection jo liya hai woh sahi meter se nahi liya hai, […] bahar chhajja thoda bahar nikala hua hai… woh sab cheez jo agar ek venue mein hai toh uske liye main kyu sorry bolu? (He isn’t meeting him right now for me. He’s doing it for himself. People are thinking that he’s meeting with him so I get to perform at The Habitat again. That’s not the case. If someone owns a venue where fire safety regulations are not met, the electric connection is taken from the wrong meter, the roof is spilling over…why should I apologise for these shortcomings of a venue?”

Kamra says he is only reacting to this news because numerous people have reached out to him to ask for his opinion on this development. “Mera kuch kehna nahi hai, bhai,” he says. “Balraj jo apna kaam hai woh kar raha hai. Ek dhandha jaise chalta hai woh chala raha hai. (I have nothing to say. Balraj is doing what his work demands. He’s doing what is needed to run a business.)”

Kamra mentions that he reached out to Ghai for some shows that he wants to do in Mumbai in October. The venue-owner refused this request stating that he was not willing to undergo the pressure that went through in the aftermath of the controversy.

Watch the video here.