A recent video of comedian Samay Raina has sparked controversy after he was seen with Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal, the same leader who had earlier vandalised Mumbai’s Habitat Studio. Raina, along with Balraj Singh Ghai, the owner of the studio, was spotted with Kanal at Lalbaugcha Raja during Ganesh darshan on September 3. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with many netizens expressing surprise and disappointment over the unlikely association. Kanal, a member of Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, had led a group of party workers in attacking the Habitat Studio earlier this year in response to comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks against the former Maharashtra chief minister.

The backlash on social media was immediate, with several users recalling Kanal’s involvement in the destruction of the very studio that hosted Raina and other comedians in the past. Many questioned why both Raina and Ghai chose to be seen in public with Kanal, describing the moment as an “unexpected collaboration.” Some even suggested that the association was inappropriate given the bitter history between the comedy community and political cadres who have repeatedly targeted free speech. The video also shows the trio being escorted by police during their visit, adding to the intrigue surrounding the sighting.

The Habitat Studio has faced a turbulent few months following repeated attacks and an eventual demolition drive carried out by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) citing civic violations. The shutdown was further linked to Kunal Kamra’s viral act in which he allegedly mocked Eknath Shinde. Following the vandalism, the studio had issued a statement distancing itself from comedians’ content while apologising for the controversy. With Samay Raina’s appearance alongside the very leader responsible for the attack, fresh debates have reignited around the vulnerability of comedy spaces in India and the complex intersections of art, politics, and freedom of expression.