India, Oct. 12 -- Shekhar Suman has dismissed speculation that the Enforcement Directorate's raids on producer Dharmesh Sangani had anything to do with the political jokes on his YouTube show, Shekhar Tonite. The speculation came at a time when the actor-host's monologues criticising the government, including one in which he mocked a "tanashaah" (dictator), were drawing attention online. But Shekhar said he saw no reason to link the two, insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be rattled by satire on a comedy show.

Shekhar Suman has repeatedly said that Shekhar Tonite is not an anti-BJP show. In an interview with The Lallantop, he explained this through the example of a class monitor who must be held accountable when things...