Madhya High Court today denied the bail applications of self-proclaimed comedian Munawar Faruqui and his aide Nalin Yadav who are charged with hurting the religious sentiments. Faruqui was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police for insulting Gods during a stand-up comedy show in Indore. His bail application had come up before a single-judge Bench of Justice Rohit Arya for hearing.
BREAKING : Madhya Pradesh High Court dismisses bail applications of comedian Munawar Faruqui & his aide Nalin Yadav in case for alleged hurting of religious sentiments.
They were arrested on January 2 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their show.#MunawarFaruqui pic.twitter.com/LcBL6i9KlW
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 28, 2021
Rejecting the bail applications, Justice Arya observed, “…regard being had to the material seized and the statements of the witnesses and that the investigating is in process, no case is made out for grant of bail”.
A single bench of Justice Rohit Arya observed "no case is made out for grant of bail".
"Mutual respect, faith and trust amongst all citizens of India are basic tenets of co-existence in a welfare society governed by rule of law", the judge remarked in parting.#MunawarFaruqi pic.twitter.com/z487y8jkse
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 28, 2021
The court noted that it is the constitutional duty of every citizen of the country and also of the State to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India irrespective of religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities. The court reminded the State of its duty to create an environment conducive for the sustenance of coexistence in the society and to make sure that it is not “polluted by negative forces”.
Making critical remarks regarding Faruqui’s comedy show, the High Court noted, “The evidence /material collected so far suggest that an organised public show under the garb of standup comedy on commercial lines, prima facie scurrilous, disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of Indian were made”.
During the previous hearing of the bail applications, the High court had spoken in a strict tone. The High Court had questioned the mindset of Faruqui for making the alleged derogatory remarks against Hindu gods. Reserving the order in the application, Justice Arya had said that such people must not be spared.
Faruqui and four other persons identified as Edwin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav were arrested for allegedly mocking Hindu Gods in a stand-up comedy show in Indore based on the complaint of Eklavya Singh Gaur, an activist and the chief of Hindu Rakshak Sangathan.
Source : OpIndia
MP High Court slams Munawar Faruqui, reserves order on bail application
January 25, 2021
The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has made scathing remarks against Munawar Faruqui while reserving the order on the self-proclaimed stand-up comedian’s bail application. The single judge bench of Justice Rohit Arya also asked the advocate appearing for Munawar Faruqui whether he wanted to withdraw the bail application, LiveLaw has reported.
The judge asked, “But why you take undue advantage of other’s religious sentiments and emotions. What is wrong with your mindset? How can you do this for the purpose of your business?” Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha argued on behalf of Munawar Faruqui, “He has committed no offence in the matter your lordships. Bail should be granted”.
“The accused Munawar Faruqui has posted several previous video which was circulated on social media.These remarks were made 18 months ago. He repeated the same remarks on three different occasions i.e. comedy shows. This has led to other comedians making such remarks about Hindu Gods. This is happening with 70% of the comedians,” one lawyer opposing the bail application said.
Finally, Justice Rohit Arya stated, “Such people must not be spared. I will reserve the order on merits.” The order regarding the bail application of Nalin Yadav, a co-performer arrested along with Faruqui, has also been reserved.
Source : OpIndia
Troubles mount for ‘comedian’ Munawar Faruqui as UP police seeks his custody
January 17, 2021
‘Comedian’ Munawar Faruqui, who was earlier denied bail by the Madhya Pradesh High Court for his derogatory remarks against Hindu Gods and Goddesses, is in trouble yet again. In a new development, the Uttar Pradesh police have submitted a production warrant for him, in a case registered against him in April last year.
As per reports, the production warrant has been submitted on January 7 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Indore and the Indore Central Jail, where Munawar Faruqui is serving his judicial custody. The said case was lodged at the George Town police station on April 19, 2020, in Praygraj district of Uttar Pradesh, following a complaint by one advocate named Ashutosh Mishra.
The police had booked the accused under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) and Section 65 and 66 IT Act, 2008. The case is based on the YouTube video, uploaded by Faruqui, wherein he was seen making derogatory remarks against Hindu deities, mocking the deaths of Hindus in the Godhra train burning case and insinuating the role of the RSS and Home Minister in the carnage.
Source : OpIndia
MP High Court adjourns bail application of ‘comedian’ Munawar Faruqui
January 15, 2021
‘Comedian’ Munawar Faruqui, who has been in judicial custody for the last two weeks for mocking Hindu God and Goddess, will have to continue to remain in jail as the Madhya Pradesh High Court today adjourned his bail hearing until next week.
Indian Express journalist Iram Siddique took to Twitter to inform that the bail hearing at High Court in Indore was adjourned as police failed to produce his case diary. Faruqui’s advocate, Anshuman Shrivastav alleged that it appears to be a tactic by police to harass his client.
Advocate Anushman Shrivastav further agrued before the court that the police should be ordered to get the diary and matter be heard in the second half. However, the court scheduled the hearing for next week.
Comedian Munawar Faruqui's bail hearing at High Court in Indore was adjourned as police failed to get case diary. Faruqui's advocate, Anshuman Shrivastav alleged that it appears to be a tactic by police to harass Faruqui. The bail plea will now be heard next week. @IndianExpress
— Iram Siddique (@Scribbly_Scribe) January 15, 2021
‘Comedian’ Munawar Faruqui had moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking bail after the magistrate’s court as well as the sessions court had rejected his bail plea on January 5 (Tuesday) and 2 (Saturday) respectively.
His bail pleas were not only rejected but, Chief judicial magistrate Aman Singh Bhuria also extended Faruqui’s judicial custody till January 27.
Hindu activists handed over Munawar Faruqui to the police
Eklavya Singh Gaur, an activist and the chief of Hindu Rakshak Sangathan, had filed the complaint after watching the show. They had filed the complaint after they heard the “indecent” comments, leading them to force the organisers to stop the program.
The Hindu activist Gaur had also submitted video footage of the show. Gaur had said he and his friends went to watch the show where Faruqui was performing as the main comedian.
“The show mocked Hindu deities by passing indecent comments. The Godhra incident and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also mentioned inappropriately. We shot a video and stopped the show by taking the audience out of the cafe. Then we caught the comedians and organizers of the show and took them to Tukoganj police station,” the Hindu activist said.
Gaur also said that no physical distancing was maintained at the venue and the show had no permission from authorities. At least 100 viewers were sitting in the small hall of the cafe, he said. Gaur denied media reports that Faruqui was beaten up by the activists of Hind Rakshak.
Faruqui on 2002 Godhra Carnage, Amit Shah and Hindu Gods
Munawar Faruqui, during a show in April last year, had ridiculed the 2002 Godhra carnage where 58 Hindus returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive by a Muslim mob. In a show, Faruqui had referred to the carnage as a fictional film ‘directed’ by Amit Shah and ‘produced’ by RSS.
A complaint was also filed against Faruqui after he had used Bollywood songs to make crass, disrespectful remarks on Hindu gods and belief system. He also pointed out how he mocked the brutal massacre of Hindus in the Godhra carnage by claiming, “Marney ke baad jaltay hai na? (Hindus get burnt anyway after death).”
Source : OpIndia