Madhya Pradesh High court rejects bail application of Munawar Farooqui held for allegedly “hurting religious sentiments”

The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore Bench on Thursday, January 28, rejected the bail applications filed by comedian Munawar Farooqui and co-accused Nalin Yadav who have been in jail for “hurting religious sentiments” during a show.

Rejecting the bail application, a single-bench of judge Rohit Arya observed that “In the light of statements of the complainant and the witnesses referred above, the seized articles via video footage of the show and the seizures memo detailed above, at this stage, it is difficult to countenance to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant as complacency of the applicant cannot be ruled out, besides vulnerability of his acts in public domain. It is no case of no evidence. More so, the investigation is in progress. The possibility of collection of more incriminating material and complacency of other persons cannot also be ruled out. Further, it has come on record that similar nature offence has been registered against the applicant at a police station in Prayagraj, UP.”

The judge has primarily relied on statements by the witnesses in the case, particularly the complainant Eklavya Singh Gaur (son of BJP MLA Malini Gaur and leader of a local Hindutva oufit), and one Kunal.

Farooqui’s lawyer, senior advocate Vivek Tankha, had argued that Farooqui had not made any of the comments alleged by the complainant at the show.

Farooqui’s advocate Anshuman Shrivastava said, “We believe in our law and judiciary and will decide the future course of action accordingly.”

Farooqui has been in jail since January 2 along with the four other co-accused. The court heard his bail application on January 25 and reserved the order on merit.