Munawar Faruqui’s bail plea rejected, Madhya Pradesh HC says duty of all citizens to promote harmony
The judge said there was prima facie evidence to suggest that Faruqui had intended to outrage religious feelings ‘under the garb of stand-up comedy’. Updated Jan 28, 2021 · 01:47 pm A file photo of comedian Munawar Faruqui. | Munawar Faruqui/Instagram
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, reported
Bar and Bench. The court concluded that there was prima facie
evidence to suggest that Faruqui had intended to outrage religious feelings “under the garb of stand-up comedy”.
Faruqui has been in jail since January 1 for allegedly making derogatory jokes on Hindu deities, even though the police have said there was no electronic evidence and that the complaint was filed based on hearsay.
Munawar Faruqui Act Hadn t Even Begun but HC Denies Bail, Says Comic Outraged Religious Feelings
The comedian was arrested even before his show took place, based on what a BJP MLA says he heard during a rehearsal.
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui. Photo: Instagram/munawar.faruqui
Rights28/Jan/2021
New Delhi: The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on Thursday rejected Munawar Faruqui’s bail plea for hurting religious sentiments and said that it was the constitutional duty of every citizen “to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood”.
The single-judge bench of Justice Rohit Arya that gave the judgement after reserving its order on Monday, held that “no case is made out for grant of bail”. It also said that there was prima facie evidence to suggest that the applicants intended to outrage religious feelings “under the garb of standup comedy.”
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Munawar Faruqui, the stand-up comedian who has been jailed in a case against him for allegedly passing indecent remarks against Hindu deities, was denied bail by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday. It observed that it was the constitutional duty of every citizen and the states to promote harmony among people irrespective of the diversities.
Justice Rohit Arya of the Indore bench of the high court also turned down the bail application of Nalin Yadav, another accused in the case.
The single-bench had on Monday reserved the order on their bail pleas.
Police had arrested Faruqi and four others on January 1 following a complaint by a BJP MLA’s son that objectionable remarks were made by him and others about Hindu deities during a comedy show at a cafe in Indore. One more person was arrested later.