Ace-comedian Kapil Sharma, who has been giving rib-tickling performances at Mumbai Police’s annual show ‘Umang’ for quite a few years now, was nowhere to be seen at the 2017 edition of the event.

b’Kapil at Umang in 2015′

Like every year, Sharma received an invitation this year from the organisers as well. Kapil was not just invited, but persuaded to come and perform by the police, says this Mumbai Mirror report. 

The high-profile event is a usually star-studded affair where some of the biggest Bollywood stars getting together to shake a leg with the men and women in uniform, in the presence of the Chief Minister and other state dignitaries.

But Kapil reportedly turned the invitation down. And these tweets may have something to do with it: 

The Mumbai Mirror has speculated the reason for his absence could be the comedian’s recent run-ins with the law after his ‘acche din’ tweet.

It’s well-known how the tweet saw the local municipal body launch a counter-offensive on Sharma. First, the BMC booked Kapil for environment-related violations at his Andheri bungalow, then for illegal constructions in his Goregaon flat and later filed a police complaint against him for not naming the official who asked him for a bribe.

Based on these complaints, the Mumbai Police registered a case against Sharma. In fact, the police had turned up at his residence to serve him a notice after Sharma failed to show up at the police station for the inquiry. Enraged that he is being targeted for his “celebrity status”, Kapil is reportedly about to sell off the flat in question.

The question now is, will his no-show at Umang bring Kapil more misery?