MP High Court Adjourns Hearing In Comedian Munawar Faruqui's Bail Plea As Police Failed To Produce Case Diary

The Bench of Justice Rohit Arya adjourned the hearing in the matter as the Tukoganj police failed to produce the case diary of the case in which Faruqui, Nalin Yadav and four others have been arrested. The Court has fixed the next date of hearing tentatively on January 25.

Faruqui, a resident of Gujarat, was arrested on 02^nd January along with four others for allegedly making indecent remarks against Hindu deities and against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show held at a cafe in 56 Dukan area of Indore on January 1.

The complaint in this matter was filed by one Eklavya Singh Gaur, who happens to be the son of local BJP legislator Malini Laxman Singh Gaur.

Police has booked five accused under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 269 (unlawful or negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

As per the report of the New Indian Express, Faruqui's counsel Anshuman Srivastava said that an application for bail was moved on behalf of Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav and the matter was listed for hearing before the HC for hearing. Senior Supreme Court advocate and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha appeared on behalf of the bail applicants. But since the local police could not produce the case diary, the hearing in the matter was adjourned for next week.

It may be noted that a local court in Madhya Pradesh had, on 05^th January, rejected bail to stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui and another accused.

After hearing arguments of both the sides, Additional District and Sessions court judge Yatindra Kumar Guru had rejected the bail plea of Faruqui and Nalin Yadav.

Earlier, on January 2, the court of chief judicial magistrate had rejected the bail plea of the comedian, Yadav and three others.