Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, who was arrested more than a month ago for allegedly making fun of Hindu deities, is yet to be released from a jail in Madhya Pradesh, despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday on the matter.
Officials at the Indore jail have said that they are yet to receive an order from the apex court.
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram took to Twitter to question the grounds on which Faruqui was still being held in jail.
“Why has Munawar Faruqui not been released from jail despite an order of interim bail granted by the Supreme Court yesterday morning?” the former finance minister tweeted.
“It is nearly 30 hours since the order was passed. Yet, the order is being undermined by the UP police and jail authorities. Is all this happening with or without the knowledge of the UP Chief Minister?” he said in another tweet.
It is nearly 30 hours since the order was passed. Yet, the order is being undermined by the MP police and jail authorities.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 6, 2021
Is all this happening with or without the knowledge of the MP Chief Minister?
Faruqui was arrested for allegedly making objectionable remarks on Hindu gods as well as Home Minister Amit Shah at a comedy show on January 1 in Indore based on a complained by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of local BJP legislator Malini Laxman Singh Gaur.
The comedian’s bail application was rejected three times by a court in Madhya Pradesh before the Supreme Court granted it.
The court had issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh government and put on hold a warrant against Faruqui in Uttar Pradesh as well.
Faruqui, meanwhile, has maintained that though he was present at the venue on the day of the show, he never had the chance to make any jokes or remarks as the complainant and his associates had already created a ruckus before he went on stage.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail, confirmed that the FIR filed on the complaint by Gaur was vague, and procedure was not followed during Faruqui’s arrest.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang, however, responded to the Supreme Court order, saying that Faruqui is not innocent and no one should be allowed to make fun of Hindu gods.
“Bail is a routine process. That doesn’t mean he is innocent. Our police has not done anything wrong. Why should anyone be allowed to make fun of Hindu Gods and Goddesses?” he said.
