MP High Court Dismisses Bail Plea Filed By Controversial Comedian Munawar Faruqui

The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed the bail plea of Controversial comedian Munawar Faruqui who was arrested on 2 January along with Nalin Yadav for hurting religious sentiments.

The single bench of Justice Rohit Arya had reserved judgment on 25 January in their bail pleas.

"It is the constitutional duty of every citizen of the country and also of the States to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India irrespective of religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities and to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture," the Court said, reports Livelaw.

The order stated that mutual respect, faith and trust amongst all citizens of India are basic tenets of co-existence, in a welfare society governed by the principles of rule of law.

The Court concluded that there is prima facie evidence to suggest that the applicants (Faruqui and the show organiser, Yadav) had intended to outrage religious feelings "under the garb of standup comedy."

"The evidence/material collected sofar, suggest that in an organized public show under the garb of standup comedy at a public place on commercial lines, prima facie; scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intendment, were made by the applicant," the order reads, reports Bar and Bench.

The HC noted that "similar nature of offence" has been registered against the applicant at Police Station Georgetown, Prayagraj, State of Uttar Pradesh.

Faruqui was arrested after a Hindu group filed an FIR against them, accusing the comedians of “indecent and disgraceful” remarks against Hindu Gods, Goddesses and customs.