SC grants interim bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui

11:27 February 05

SC grants interim bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui who was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police in a case related to allegedly hurting religious sentiments. SC issued notice to MP Police on Faruqui's plea challenging the MP High Court order declining him bail in the case.

The bench comprising of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice BR Gavai issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh government and observed that Section 41 of CRPC has not been followed before the arrest. 

On January 28, Madhya Pradesh High Court had declined to grant him bail in a case for the alleged hurting of religious sentiments. He is accused of passing "indecent" remarks about Hindu deities during a show. The FIR was registered by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of Indore BJP MLA Malini Gaur who allged that Faruqui not only made fun of Hindu gods but also Godhra riots and Home Minister Amit Shah. Along with Faruqui, Nalin Yadav, Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas and Priyam Vyas, were also arrested.

Rejecting the bail plea, the Madhya Pradesh High Court said the liberty of a person has to be "balanced" with his duties towards other citizens.

Faruqui, along with four other event organisers, was arrested for allegedly insulting Hindu deities during his performance at a cafe in the popular 56 Dukan locality of Indore on New Year's Day. Among others, arrested include Indore-based Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas, Nalin Yadav, and event coordinator Edwin Anthony.

An Allahabad court had also issued a production warrant against Faruqui in a case of the alleged derogatory depiction of Hindu deities by him on social media. An FIR was lodged against the comedian by an advocate in April last year accusing him of mocking and insulting Hindu deities in his viral video clips on social media.

With ANI inputs