Supreme Court grants interim bail to comedian Faruqui

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui who was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus during a show on New Year.

“The petitioner (Faruqui) is released on ad-interim bail on conditions to the satisfaction of the trial court,” a Bench headed by Justices RF Nariman ordered. While issuing notice to the Madhya Pradesh Government on Faruqui’s plea, it also stayed a warrant for production of the comedian in Uttar Pradesh in another case.

The Bench granted interim bail to the comedian after it was pointed out that the procedure under CrPC and the law laid down by the Supreme Court with regard to arrest wasn’t followed.

On behalf of the comedian, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhri and advocate Saurabh Kirpal termed it a case of victimisation. The allegations made in the FIR were vague and the procedure under CrPC and the law laid down by the Supreme Court with regard to arrest weren’t followed.

Faruqui, who hails from Gujarat, was arrested on January 1 by the Madhya Pradesh Police for his alleged derogatory remarks against Hindu gods during a show in Indore.