Indore: A stand-up comedian and four others were arrested for allegedly passing indecent remarks against Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Saturday.
Police said the comedy show was held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area in the city on Friday.
The complaint in this regard was filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur (36), son of local BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaur, based on which comedian Munawar Faruqui and four others were arrested, police said.
Gaur and his associates had gone to the show as audience, where they objected to the comments and created a ruckus over it. They also forced the event to stop.
“A case was filed late on Friday night against stand- up comedian Munawar Faruqui, a resident of Junagadh in Gujarat and four Indore-based persons based on a written complaint filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur, who also submitted a controversial video footage of the comedy show,” in-charge of Tukoganj police station Kamlesh Sharma said.
“All the five accused were later arrested,” he said.
As per the complaint, indecent remarks were passed against Hindu gods and goddesses and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the show, Sharma said.
Four other arrested persons were identified as Edwin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav, the police said.
All of them were booked under IPC sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), section 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Gaur said, “After purchasing the tickets, my associates and I went to the comedy show, where Faruqui was performing as the main comedian. The show mocked the Hindu deities by passing indecent comments.
The Godhra incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also mentioned inappropriately during the show.”
“Such objectionable talkswere going on during the comedy show. We made a video of them and stopped the show by taking the audience out of the cafe. Then we caught the comedians and organisers of the show and took them to Tukoganj police station,” he said.
Gaur, who is also the convener of local outfit Hind Rakshak, alleged that the instruction to maintain physical distance was also not being followed during the comedy show and it was organised without the permission of the authorities.
At least 100 spectators were sitting in a small hall of the cafe, he said.
Some media reports said that the stand-up comedian was also thrashed by the workers of Hind Rakshak during the ruckus in the cafe.
However, Gaur denied the charge.
Also read: Comedian Kunal Kamra faces contempt proceedings for his tweets criticising SC bail to Arnab
I condemn what this comedian has done, insulting other religions, this is not what Islam teaches or any other religion for that matter, he and the other people involved should be rightfully punished under the LAW . But I also feel that he is being discriminated based on his religion by the authorities and the people involved. Bottom line is we should respect each other’s religion and a person as a human being .
It feels soothing when we read this news. These people create ruckes in socity
This is too little, too late. He should have been soundly thrashed first, then handed over to police. It should be an SOP. And the usual suspects should be invited, and then acted upon. I am disappointed with the BJP. Hope you guys will deliver better results next time. One Kunal ka Kamra is lined up and ready. Primed and ready, needs deliverance. Get the sob soon, guys.
Sahi kaha bhai jaan..humko aise hi freedom of speech ko protect karna chahiye chahe joke ram par ho ya muhammad par. Mujhe muhammad par ek mast joke ata hai pork wala..sunoge?
The comments apparently referred to inappropriate talks between Ram & Sita. Would it have been okay if the joke covered Mohammed & Khadija / Ayesha 0r Jesus & Mary Magdalene ?
Well whatever was done was absolutely correct..it doesn’t matter if they went on purpose or not… freedom of speech doesn’t give us the right to hurt somebody’s religious sentiments….constructive criticism is openly accepted but spreading hate is wrong anyways..so I support the arresting of munawar farooqi it was absolutely right!
Its really pathetic to see this ,
i mean , So what ,he has passed a remark
Comedy ka matalab samj ni ata toh jaate kyu ho shows me .
And this BJP man went deliberately there .
And yes , Munawar is a muslim,yeh to hona hi tha.
This Godi Is really a matter of disgust for us
Hitler be like, I’m back in power baby.
Man he went there on purpose! This is so wrong! So so wrong. I hate this! I hate BJP. Please do something about it @ThePrint. Please post more and more articles about this discriminant arrest. Please stop this injustice. We’ve had enough. Please.
What about the insults he was doing? If I abuse you and your parents in name of free expression how will you take it?
Why is it that Muslim artists, painters, comedians find so much inspiration from Hindu deities and nothing from their own religion? Why is it that MF Hussain found so much inspiration from Hinduism to paint its deities, but none from Islam to paint an extremely reverential portrait of the Prophet?
Well said
Hindu goons that malign hinduism. Munawar farooqui jokes on all religions. Amit shah is honestly a big joke all over India like many other politicians are. Sad that we are becoming a country of fanatics. If the same show was done by a Hindu then no one would have had a problem.
hindus are busy critising BJP and india …. aur kamra ka naam to suna he hoga. he had been publically made to apologise or had been thrased by mob several times. And also once , saw the video of another muslim stand up comedian who was mocking ganeshji. HINDUS dont mock their’s (muslims) becuase we know how it feels to be targeted every time , and moreover we love to live… Once a man named kamlesh tiwari did this “gustakhi” and you know what?? he is no more. a man made henious comments on mata laxmi and no one outraged and when a “dalit” guy in the reply made controversial comments on prophet, the whole bengaluru burnt. SO, stfu…
You are wrong. Even if a Hindu does it we have a problem. Even more. We are also ashamed of those Hindus who are clapping on his jokes.