Days following stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s accusation that BookMyShow had delisted him from its ticketing portal, the digital platform has sent a formal rebuttal, negating any involvement in censoring artists. The firm claimed it practices platform neutrality and adheres to India’s relevant laws, leaving the burden of listings with show organisers and venues.
BookMyShow Breaks Silence After Kamra’s Open Letter
Kamra took to X (formerly Twitter) with an open letter to BookMyShow, questioning whether he had been removed from the platform due to political pressure following his “gaddar” remark aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="183px" width="275px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1440px" width="2560px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="168px" width="300px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="199px" width="253px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="168px" width="299px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1080px" width="1920px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
In his post, Kamra wrote, “With that in mind, I request one of the following: Do not delist me, or Provide me with the data (contact information) I’ve generated through your platform from my audience. Thank you for your understanding.”
BookMyShow Denies Censorship Allegations
In its official response, BookMyShow stated, “It is a platform to facilitate the sale of tickets and operates the business with neutrality and in compliance with the applicable laws of India. Facts on our role have been misrepresented in the public domain. Our role is to provide a platform for ticket sales of live shows and it is the decision of the organiser or the venue to list or delist their shows.”
The company clarified that it does not censor any artist and only serves as a go-between for organisers and audiences.
Delisting Followed Political Pressure
The row broke out after reports surfaced that BookMyShow delisted Kamra’s shows a day after Rahool Kanal, a youth leader of the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, publicly called on the platform to desist from hosting Kamra’s content. Kanal thanked BookMyShow on social media, posting:
“Thank you for keeping your portal clean and keeping such artists out of the list of pure entertainment, because we all being Mumbaikars love and believe in every form of art but not personal agendas.”
Backlash Linked to Controversial Stand-Up Show
Kamal’s event, conducted at Mumbai Habitat Centre in Khar, had already garnered attention in the past because of its political flavor. Rahool Kanal was one of the 12 Shiv Sena politicians who were arrested for damaging the event venue after the event, further inflating tensions.
While Kamra continues to ask for transparency, the statement by BookMyShow has put the responsibility for the delisting on event organisers rather than on the platform itself.
