Days after he allegedly led the vandalism that triggered the shutting down of Mumbai’s Habitat Club, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal’s name is back on the front page. This time, it’s not for breaking furniture but for distributing food to dogs “all over Mumbai” and ration kits to hospitals, old age homes and orphanages.
The occasion? Reliance Industries non-executive director Anant Ambani’s 30th birthday.
Don’t believe us? Check out the latest front-page ad of Mumbai-based afternoon daily Mid-Day. On April 10, the Jagran group-owned newspaper, published a full-page ad on the events Rahool Kanal’s I Love Mumbai foundation is organising to celebrate the birthday of “humanitarian” Anant Ambani.
Kanal’s Mid-Day ad listed the “events planned on the occasion of Anant Ambani’s birthday that will leave a lasting impression” from April 9 to April 12.
After Shiv Sena workers, led by Kanal, allegedly vandalised The Habitat amid a controversy over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks, the performance and event venue had announced its closure over safety concerns. From poetry to stand-up comedy, several artistes credited the Khar-based performance space for supporting artistic expression in Mumbai.
Some social media users took jabs at the daily for publishing the ad, while others termed Kanal’s advertisement “sycophantic”.
Mid day got their Mid Day meal pic.twitter.com/oCk3EsinZ5
— Anurag Minus Verma (@confusedvichar) April 10, 2025
Rahul Kanal, the vandal on bail who attacked Habitat, issues sycophantic advertisements highlighting his own charity towards “Humanitarian” Anant Ambani.
— Kunal Purohit (@kunalpurohit) April 10, 2025
Peak New India moment. pic.twitter.com/5FkdcoT6ww
They are doing some mad PR for this guy. from the wedding to the Vantara stories to the padayatra, to now this birthday bullshit. It's all so clumsy. But I guess there are plenty of idiots in this country who will swallow all this unquestioningly. https://t.co/b8BmTucLU5
— Vinay Aravind (@vinayaravind) April 10, 2025
Anant sets up Habitat (Vantara)
— peeleraja (@peeleraja) April 10, 2025
Rahool Kanal wrecks Habitat (club)
but...
Sabe mile hue hain. https://t.co/t38EZxyIpZ
It is not clear if the I Love Mumbai foundation has any links with the Reliance group.
Kanal has earlier shared pictures with Anant Ambani on his social media accounts. In one Instagram post, he called Ambani’s animal rehabilitation centre Vantara the “best animal facility we have seen ever”. On his Instagram account on April 10, Kanal shared videos of some kits being handed out in a school and food being distributed outside a hospital saying he was “just trying to do a bit like” Anant Ambani, whom he referred to as a “humanitarian”, “philanthropist” and ”one of the best soul”.
Last month, an animal protection group had accused Ambani’s Vantara project of exporting several wild animals from South Africa to Jamnagar in Gujarat. Reports by at least three media outlets on the matter had become unavailable within hours of publishing. Read more about it here.
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