In a significant development, popular stand-up comedian and actor Kapil Sharma on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his claims for delivering achche din promise.
Taking to Twitter, Sharma, said that he was being asked to pay Rs 5 lakh as bribe in order to set up his new office.
He wrote, “I am paying 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay 5 lacs bribe to BMC office for making my office @narendramodi. Yeh hain aapke achhe din ? ”
I am paying 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay 5 lacs bribe to BMC office for making my office @narendramodi
— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) September 9, 2016
Yeh hain aapke achhe din ? @narendramodi
— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) September 9, 2016
The post of Sharma, who has over 6.22 million followers on twitter, was retweeted by many.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, Fadnavis requested the TV host to provide them with necessary information to punish the culprit.
“Kapilbhai pls provide all info. Have directed MC,BMC to take strictest action. We will not spare the culprit,” the CM said in a tweet.
The BMC also asked Sharma to reveal the name of the officer who allegedly demanded the bribe.
“I have requested Kapil Sharmaji to reveal the name of the officer who demanded bribe so that we can initiate inquiry and appropriate action against him or her. We hope that he will cooperate with us,” Manohar Pawar, chief engineer of vigilance department in BMC, told PTI.
“We are very sorry, if any of the officers caused inconvenience to Sharma, but we are hopeful that he will reveal the name of the offender,” Pawar said.
Manohar Pawar, chief engineer of vigilance department in BMC, said, “I have requested Kapil Sharma to reveal the name of the officer who demanded bribe so that we can initiate inquiry and appropriate action against him or her.”
“Let me assure you that if you desire to keep any disclosure made by you in this matter confidential, the same shall also be ensured,” he said in a statement.
BJP MLA Kadam sought a probe into Sharma’s allegation.
“Yes, I have filed a complaint against the comedian as he kept quiet on bribery issue and did not file a complaint against the officer who asked for the bribe. I know that one who gives bribe is equally responsible as the one who demands it,” he told PTI.
“Since Sharma took the Twitter route to raise his complaint, therefore, I lodged the complaint with the cyber cell and demanded to forward it to Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate into Sharma’s allegations,” Kadam said.
“As a responsible citizen, Sharma miserably failed to live up to his duty. He should have filed a case with either Mumbai Police or should have taken the help of ACB which is doing good job these days. He should have come forward and helped us to uproot the seeds of corruption from our country,” he added.
“I want a proper investigation into the case so that it could reach a logical conclusion,” he said.
Asked about BMC’s claim that the comedian had done some illegal construction in his office, Kadam said, “This is why I have demanded a free and fair investigation, by sending summons to all the involved persons into the case and punish whosoever is the culprit.”
Confirming the complaint, Mumbai police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe said, “Yes, we have received an application and since the allegations are related to the anti-corruption department, the application is going to be forwarded to anti-corruption department for further inquiry.”
Sharma hosts the popular comedy chat programme “The Kapil Sharma Show” on television.
He was the winner of “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge” in 2007 and later hosted the popular “Comedy Nights with Kapil”.
Last year, Sharma made his Bollywood debut with Abbas Mustan’s romantic-comedy film “Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon”. PTI APM GK
Modi has often faced flak from his political detractors for his failure to deliver his election promises. Modi, during 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign had promised Indian voters to bring achche din for them if they voted him to power.
Modi won a historic mandate in May 2014 by winning 282 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Sharma’s criticism assumes significance as, not so long ago, Modi had made him a brand ambassador for his pet scheme, Swacch Bharat.
Sharma has been the most popular comedian on Indian TV for last few years. Earlier this year, he moved from Colors TV to start a new show on the rival channel Sony.
