Indore Court Rejects Bail Plea of Comedian Munawar Faruqui and Associate

New Delhi, 06 Jan 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: The court of sessions in Indore on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui and his associate Nalin Yadav on the grounds that the investigation is pending, their lawyer Anshuman Shrivastav said, adding that he has not yet received the order passed by the court.

Faruqui and his four associates were arrested after a complaint by Eklavya Guar, son of a local BJP leader, alleging that they made remarks insulting Hindu deities and criticizing Home Minister Amit Shah at a show in a cafe in Indore on Friday night.

However, eye witnesses have rejected the claims made by Gaur saying, “No derogatory remarks were made by Munawar Faruqui at the Indore show.”

Gaur and his men disrupted the show forcing Faruqui to stop his performance and complained to the police leading to arrest of Faruqui and others.

Subsequently, Sadakat, a friend of Faruqui in Indore, was also arrested when he went to the police station to see him. A video that has gone viral on social media shows a lawyer slapping Sadakat while he is being hauled by cops on a motorcycle.

The case (FIR- 02/2021) filed against them invokes section 295-A & 298 (insulting religion) 269, 188 and 34 at police station Thakurganj. The accused have been lodged at central jail, Indore.

Reports citing police have said that there is no video evidence to show Faruqui made jokes insulting Hindu deities.

Lawyer Shrivastav said that they will move the High Court once they obtain the court order, likely tomorrow.