Munawar Faruqu was released on bail by the Supreme Court
New Delhi:
Comedian Munawar Faruqui was released on Sunday from a jail in Madhya Pradesh, where he was detained for more than a month after his alleged “obscene and indecent jokes” about Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as Interior Minister Amit Shah. Hours before his release, authorities at Indore prison, where he was being held, said they had not yet received an order from the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court granted Faruqui bail on Friday. The court had sent a notification to the Madhya Pradesh government and had suspended an injunction against the comedian in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Faruqui has argued that he was invited by the organizers of the show and was present, but had not made such jokes that day.
The high court agreed that procedure was not followed during his arrest and the allegations in the FIR, made in a complaint by Eklvaya Singh Gaur, the son of an MLA BJP, were vague.
In a series of tweets Saturday, P Chidambaram from Congress questioned why the comedian’s release was delayed. “Why has Munawar Faruqui not been released from jail despite a bail order issued by the Supreme Court yesterday morning?” your tweet read.
It has been almost 30 hours since the order was approved. However, the order is being undermined by the MP police and the prison authorities.
Is all this happening with or without the knowledge of the Chief Minister of the MP?
– P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 6, 2021
In response to the Supreme Court order on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang said: “Bail is a routine process, that does not mean that I am innocent. Our police have done nothing wrong. Why should anyone be allowed to make fun of Hindu gods and goddesses? “
Munawar Faruqui had been denied bail three times earlier. By denying him bail on January 28, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had said that the possibility of further “incriminating material” could not be ruled out as investigations were still ongoing.
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