Comedian Munawar Faruqui released from Indore central jail

Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in a case he’s accused of allegedly making of indecent remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, walked out of Indore central jail on Saturday night.

Faruqui was arrested on January 1 after a BJP MLA’s son filed a complaint against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments at a show on New Year’s day. He was released after prison authorities received the Supreme Court’s bail order, said an official of the jail.

The Supreme Court granted him interim bail on Friday after the Madhya Pradesh High Court had rejected his bail plea on January 28. It has also stayed the production warrant issued against Faruqui by a court in UP’s Prayagraj in connection with an FIR lodged there.

Faruqui reportedly left for Mumbai soon after his release. NDTV, which interviewed him, quoted him as saying, “The matter is subjudice before the court and I have full faith in the administration of justice and I would not like to make any comment at this stage.”

Eyewitnesses said that the comedian walked out of the jail silently and quietly possibly to avoid a backlash in the wake of accusations made against him. Mediapersons also flocked outside the jail after getting the news of his release.

Related news | Supreme Court grants interim bail to jailed comedian Munawar Faruqui

Sometime before his release, an official of the Indore central jail, had said that a court in Prayagraj had ordered Faruqui’s production in a similar case on February 18. Citing the jail manual, he said that an order from the Prayagraj court or a competent government officer, was needed to release him.

(With inputs from agencies)