Stand-Up Comedian Munawar Faruqui Released From Indore Central Jail After SC Granted Interim Bail

Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was released from Indore central jail late night on Saturday after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail on Friday

Image: Munawar Faruqui (Twitter/@munawar0018)

Indore: Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was released from Indore central jail in the late hours of Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a case registered against him in Madhya Pradesh over an accusation of hurting religious sentiments. 

The Madhya Pradesh police had arrested five standup comedians including Munawar Faruqui for allegedly making indecent comments against Hindu gods and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show which was held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area of Indore.

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail after the Madhya Pradesh High Court had rejected his bail plea on January 28. The Apex court had also stayed the production warrant issued against Faruqui by a court in Prayagraj in connection with an FIR lodged there.

Eyewitnesses were reported as stating that the comedian walked out of the jail silently perhaps to avoid a backlash in the wake of accusations made against him.

According to reports, the warrant issued by a Prayagraj court against Munawar Faruqui was cited as the reason behind the delay in the release as sometime before his release, an official of the Indore central jail was quoted as saying that a court in Prayagraj had ordered his production in a similar case on February 18.

Citing the jail manual, the official said that an order from the Prayagraj court or a competent government officer was needed to release him.

Besides Faruqui, the arrested comedians include Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav. They 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.

(With Agency Inputs)