LI Network
Published on: 24 April 2023 at 16:05 IST
On Monday, the Supreme Court moved all the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against comedian Munawar Faruqui to Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The FIRs were filed against him for allegedly making offensive comments about Hindu deities during one of his performances and hurting religious sentiments.
The court also granted Faruqui temporary protection from arrest for three weeks in relation to a production warrant in Delhi.
However, the court did not express any opinion on the validity of the request for dismissal, and any future appeals will be assessed on their legal merits.
On February 5, 2021, the Supreme Court granted Munawar Faruqui temporary bail, overturning the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that had denied him release.
The High Court had emphasized that promoting harmony is a fundamental duty under the Indian Constitution. The allegations against Faruqui, which resulted in the filing of the FIR, stem from a comedy show held at a cafe in Indore’s 56 Dukan area on January 1, 2021.
Eklavya Singh Gaud, the son of BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaud, filed a complaint against Faruqui and others, claiming that they had made derogatory remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the show.
According to the complaint, Gaud and his associates compelled the organizers to terminate the event. Faruqui and others were charged with various offenses under the Indian Penal Code, including Section 295-A, which pertains to intentional acts designed to outrage religious feelings of any community.
They were also charged with violating COVID-19 regulations by holding the show without permission and were booked under other relevant sections of the IPC.
