Comedian Munawar Faruqui Continues To Be In Jail In Indore: A Timeline Of How Things Unfolded
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui is spending yet another day in jail after a court in Indore, Madhya Pradesh rejected his bail plea.
The court cited the law and order situation and accepted the statement of Tukoganj police that granting bail to Faruqui and others might create social unrest.
Faruqui, a resident of Gujarat, was arrested on Saturday along with four others for allegedly making indecent remarks against Hindu deities and against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area of Indore on January 1.
The complaint was filed against them by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of local BJP legislator Malini Laxman Singh Gaur.
The complainant had alleged that Faruqui had insulted Hindu gods and made objectionable remarks about Union minister Amit Shah.
Arrest under various charges
He along with the organizers of the event were booked under IPC sections 295-A (outraging religious feelings), 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions. Section 269 was invoked for allegedly ignoring COVID- 19 safety protocol.
What happened?
Gaur told reporters that he and his friends went to watch the show where Faruqui was performing as the main comedian.
"The show mocked Hindu deities by passing indecent comments. The Godhra incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also mentioned inappropriately. We shot a video and stopped the show by taking the audience out of the cafe.
"Then we caught the comedians and organizers of the show and took them to Tukoganj police station," he said.
Gaur who is the convener of local outfit Hind Rakshak had claimed that he submitted video footage of the show, to back his allegations.
Police found no evidence
But according to multiple reports, police had not found any such remarks by Farooqui in the video.
This has also been backed up by various eyewitness statements, from those who were present in the audience.
Some even said that Farooqui had just started speaking when the group interrupted him and forced him to stop the act.
Charges 'vague' in nature
On Tuesday, Anshuman Shrivastava, the lawyer for Faruqui and Yadav, said that the allegations levelled against his clients are "vague" in nature. He said the duo was booked under political pressure.
He said Faruqui and Yadav are actors and didn't make any comment that hurt the religious feelings of any person.
Opposing the bail plea, prosecution lawyer Vimal Mishra said both the accused had participated in the event for which no permission was taken from local administration amidst the pandemic.
Mishra said indecent remarks were made against Hindu deities at the event, which he claimed was "full of obscenity despite the presence of minor boys and girls among the audience".
