MP HC rejects comic Munawar Faruqui's bail plea

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday, 28 January rejected the bail application of stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui and one of his associates. Faruqui and his aide Nalin Yadav were arrested on January 2 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their show.

Justice Rohit Arya who pronounced the order after reserving orders on Monday has concluded that "The evidence/material collected so far, suggest that in an organized 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 India were made."

Justice Arya during the hearing was reported to have asked Faruqui's lawyers: "But why do you take undue advantage of other's religious sentiments and emotions. What is wrong with your mindset? How can you do this for business purpose?"

The judge is also reported to have said that "such people should not be spared", according to LiveLaw.

Justice Arya in his order also highlighted that there is a constitutional duty on every citizen and the state to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood irrespective of religious, linguistic, sectional and regional diversities (under Article 51A(e) and (f) of the Constitution).

Munawar Faruqui and his aide were sent to judicial custody by a local court after the son of a BJP MLA filed a complaint accusing the two of passing indecent remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during their show.

The high court had adjourned the hearing on Thursday after the police failed to produce the case diary. The bail plea of Mr Faruqui and four other arrested stand-up comedians arrested in this case have already been rejected by lower courts.