Supreme Court Transfers All FIRs Against 'Comedian' Munawar Faruqui To Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court on 24 April moved all the cases filed against 'comedian' Munawar Faruqui, for his alleged derogatory comments about Hindu gods, to Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Justices B R Gavai and Sanjay Karol granted Faruqui three additional weeks of interim protection with regard to the production warrant in Delhi.

The apex court stated that it has not commented on the merits of the plea for quashing, and if a plea were to be filed, it would be considered as per law on its merits.

On 5 February 2021, the highest court granted Faruqui interim bail by staying the Madhya Pradesh High Court's decision to deny his release.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court refused bail citing promotion of harmony as a Constitutional duty.

A complaint was filed against Faruqui and others by Eklavya Singh Gaud, son of a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Malini Laxman Singh Gaud.

In his complaint, Gaud accused the organisers of making jokes about Hindu god and goddesses as well as Minister Amit Shah at a show he attended with his associates. He demanded the organisers to halt the event.

Faruqui and others were apprehended for purportedly committing crimes under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 295 A, which pertains to wilful and malicious acts that aim to inflame the religious sentiments of any group.

They're additionally accused of hosting the show during the pandemic without permission and were charged under relevant IPC provisions.