Soon after this video went viral, Pal released another video clarifying his statement, claiming that he had not targeted all doctors, but was speaking about few. “If my statements hurt the doctors, I apologize and take my words back. Doctors really are a form of God,” Pal said in the video.
Taking cognisance of the derogatory monologue against doctors, the video that came to light on April 20, the complainant approached Andheri Police and lodged a complaint against Pal, accusing him of inciting gate speech, making derogatory remarks against the frontline health workers, who have been fighting selflessly in these COVID times. Andheri Police booked Pal under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for defamation (section 500) and statements conducive to public mischief (section 505 (2)).
When contacted Pal for a comment, he said that he had uploaded an apology in the form of video, however, that never came to the fore. “As a comedian I take the current topics and turn it into a satire and I have the eight to exercise my freedom of speech and expression, which I did. Having said that, if I hurt any feelings, that was not my intention and I apologize. I only referred to 90 percent of the doctors in the video, and if the ones who were hurt consider themselves in the 90 percent at fault, there is nothing I can do,” added Pal.
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