Latest news with #MunawarFaruqui
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Why Did Bajrang Dal Object To Munawar Faruqui's Presence At World Environment Day Event?
In January 2021, Madhya Pradesh police arrested Munawar Faruqui after complaints were filed against him, accusing him of mocking Hindu deities at a show. Munawar Faruqui was recently dropped from a World Environment Day event in Mumbai after Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists objected to his presence and threatened to disrupt the program if Faruqui attended. The event was scheduled to take place in Mumbai's Bandra area and was also supposed to be attended by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It aimed to create awareness about environmental pollution caused by the littering of plastic waste. However, hours ahead of the event, the VHP and Bajrang Dal wrote to the local police, asking them to inform the organisers to drop Faruqui from the function. It should be noted that both these groups have accused the stand-up comedian of hurting Hindu sentiments in the past. 'We are opposing this person. We had requested that law and order should not be disrupted and the administration should immediately talk to the head of this organisation and stop this person from coming to the programme; otherwise Bajrang Dal will play its role and protest," Gautam Ravaria, Konkan province co-convenor of Bajrang Dal, said. In January 2021, Madhya Pradesh police arrested Munawar Faruqui after complaints were filed against him, accusing him of mocking Hindu deities at a show. The comedian spent a month in jail and was later granted bail. In September 2024 too, Munawar Faruqui left Delhi in haste over a potential threat to life. Reportedly, Munawar, who was in the national capital for the Entertainers Cricket League, left for Mumbai after Delhi Police received intelligence about a potential threat to the comedian's life. Police officials got a hint about the potential threat when they were interrogating the suspects in another shooting case in New Delhi. During questioning, the suspects disclosed that they had been instructed to conduct reconnaissance of the hotel, where Munawar was staying, for a targeted murder. Following the intelligence input, a search operation was conducted at the IGI indoor stadium and the hotel. Reportedly, Munawar was staying on the first floor of the hotel and his room was also examined by cops. On the work front, Munawar Faruqui was recently seen as a special guest on Laughter Chefs season 2. First Published:
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
The real question is not whether we agree with what Sharmistha Panoli said
Before this week, I had never heard of Sharmistha Panoli. A law student from Pune, she was unknown to the wider public until her recent arrest by the Kolkata Police over an Instagram story about Operation Sindoor. But in the span of a few days, she has become the latest symbol of how speech, particularly on sensitive religious or political themes, is being policed with alarming ease in India. Her case adds to a growing list of individuals across professions and ideologies who have been targeted not for inciting violence or causing harm, but for expressing opinions that upset entrenched sensitivities. This is not an isolated occurrence. It is part of an expanding trend where comedians, students, content creators, and ordinary citizens find themselves entangled in criminal proceedings for speech that would, in any healthy democracy, be dismissed as opinion, satire, or dissent. Looking back at the 2021 arrest of comedian Munawar Faruqui in Indore, the pattern is unmistakable. Faruqui was taken into custody based on allegations that he might have hurt religious sentiments without any conclusive evidence that he had actually said anything objectionable at all. Despite the absence of clear proof, he spent over a month in jail. This was not the enforcement of law; it was the use of the law to intimidate and punish. Ranveer Allahbadia, widely known as BeerBiceps recently found himself facing FIRs across multiple jurisdictions for a spontaneous remark made in a show. His tone may have been satirical, even immature, but it was hardly criminal. Yet, across social media and police complaints, outrage translated into legal action. What was once comic exaggeration is now treated as derogatory or controversial speech. Even comics like Kunal Kamra have faced legal scrutiny for expressing critical views about the judiciary and a Maharashtra-based political party. Although contempt proceedings did not ultimately succeed, the fact that they were initiated at all shows the shrinking space for public engagement with institutions. The message is chilling: Humour, critique, and unorthodox views now come with the threat of real consequences. The arrest of Sharmistha Panoli must be examined within this context. It is essential to locate these incidents within the framework of India's penal provisions. Sections such as 153A of the Indian Penal Code (now Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023) and 295A IPC (now Section 299 BNS) were crafted with specific thresholds: The promotion of enmity between groups, or deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, respectively. These are not intended to criminalise criticism or satire but to prevent acts that pose a clear and present danger to public order. Both provisions require proof of deliberate and malicious intent, a high bar that ensures the state does not casually suppress expression. The Constitution, under Article 19(1)(a), guarantees freedom of speech and expression. And while Article 19(2) allows for reasonable restrictions, those restrictions are meant to be carefully and narrowly applied. In Shreya Singhal vs Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court clarified that only speech which incites imminent lawless action can be criminalised. Anything short of that is constitutionally protected. Yet, that benchmark is routinely ignored by enforcement agencies. The danger is not only legal but cultural. A climate of hypersensitivity is being allowed, sometimes even encouraged, to override the fundamental right to free expression. It is no longer necessary to incite violence to get arrested. One only needs to say something provocative, or unpopular, or irreverent, especially on matters of faith. Speech is judged not by its legality, but by its potential to cause outrage. This creeping culture of intolerance weakens our constitutional democracy. It corrodes the idea of public reason that democratic systems depend upon. It also flips the burden: Instead of the state having to justify a restriction on speech, the citizen must now justify why their expression should not be criminalised. It bears repeating that disagreement, offence, or even remarks made in bad taste are not grounds for arrest. In a plural and diverse society like India, different viewpoints, even uncomfortable or controversial ones, must be accommodated unless they present a real and immediate threat to public order. This is the bedrock of constitutionalism. The consequences of arrest are far-reaching. Even when bail is eventually granted or charges are dropped, the process itself becomes punishment. It damages reputations, chills further expression, and reinforces the idea that it is safer to remain silent than speak one's mind. This is especially dangerous when applied to students and young professionals. The arrest or harassment of a law student like Sharmistha Panoli, or the above-mentioned comedians, indicates a clear pattern which cuts across ideology, gender, and geography. This does not reflect a society that values public debate. It reflects one that fears it. In the end, the real question is not whether we agree with what Sharmistha Panoli said. The question is whether we are willing to live in a country where the price of speaking is a prison cell. If that becomes the norm, then it is not just free speech that suffers, it is our collective claim to be a constitutional democracy. The writer is a legal researcher specialising in constitutional law, based in Delhi
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Boney Kapoor and Munawar Faruqui Leaving Mumbai Airport
/ May 19, 2025, 05:11PM IST Veteran Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor was recently spotted at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, exuding his signature style . Meanwhile, comedian Munawar Faruqui, winner of Bigg Boss 17, was also seen at the same airport. Dressed casually in a black t-shirt and cap, Faruqui waved at the photographers, making a rare public appearance
India Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Karan Kundrra to Krystle Dsouza: TV celebs extend support to Indian Army
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan and a series of missile attacks in the past 24 hours, several television stars have come out in support of the Indian army. Munawar Faruqui, Karan Kundrra, and Karan Veer Mehra, among others, have praised the bravery of the Indian their posts, the actors also paid tribute to the Indian Army's bravery, expressing heartfelt gratitude and pride in the nation's courageous Faruqui has appealed for national unity, encouraging people to stay united in these challenging times. In his note on his Instagram story, the Bigg Boss 17 winner wrote, 'Hum mehfuz hai, kyuki humare liye koi khada hai sarhad pe, iss waqt hum sabka saath rehna aur ek dusre ka sath dena zaruri hai, aapas me ladna ya kisi ko blame karna fizool hai (We are safe because someone is standing at the border for us. Right now, it's important for all of us to stand together and support one another. Fighting among ourselves or blaming someone is pointless).' He also sent his prayers for the armed forces personnel guarding the borders and their families. "Pray for every soldier — and for every mother who sent her son to guard our borders with courage (sic),' he Karan Kundrra voiced his support for the Indian Armed Forces after they thwarted Pakistan's attack on his hometown, Jalandhar, in Punjab. 'Hometown (Jalandhar) seeing some fireworks but we're stronger than that.. we all stand with the Indian Army.. we stand with the martyrs of #PahalgamTerroristAttack We stand with India! We Stand with Justice (sic).' Elvish Yadav shared a video on Instagram and asked everyone to stay safe and avoid sensitive zones at this time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elvish Raosahab (@elvish_yadav) Meanwhile, the Indian Army neutralised over 50 swarm drones launched by Pakistan during a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted by the air defence units in the areas of Udhampur, Samba, Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota (all in Jammu and Kashmir) and Pathankot (Punjab).The engagement involved extensive use of L-70 guns, Zu-23mm, Schilka systems, and other advanced counter-UAS equipment, demonstrating the Army's robust capability to counter aerial threats.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Munawar Faruqui calls for unity after Operation Sindoor; asks everyone to pray for armed forces and their families
In the wake of Operation Sindoor , comedian and reality star Munawar Faruqui has called for national unity, urging citizens to stand together during these tense times. Taking to social media, Faruqui praised the efforts of the armed forces in Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. Describing the strikes as a 'necessary' and just response, he went on to emphasise the importance of solidarity among Indians rather than raising conflict over differences of opinion. He penned a post that read, "Hum mehfuz hai, kyuki humare liye koi khada hai sarhad pe, iss waqt hum sabka saath rehna aur ek dusre ka sath dena zaruri hai, aapas me ladna ya kisi ko blame karna fizool hai. Operation Sindoor Air siren warning sounded in Chandigarh, residents advised to stay indoors J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan on high alert after Pak's failed drone attacks Conflict widens, India targets Lahore, Pindi, Karachi after foiling multiple Pakistani attacks Har voh soldier ke liye dua karo! Aur voh maa ke liye jisne itna bada dil karke unhe sarhad pe bheja hai. Indian Army . Hindustan aabad rahe hamesha…" The post roughly translates to, 'We are safe because someone stands at the border for us.' Calling for unity, he went on to say, 'Right now, staying united and supporting each other is crucial. Fighting among ourselves or blaming one another is pointless." He also called for prayers for the armed forces personnel guarding the borders and their families. He said, "Pray for every soldier — and for every mother who sent her son to guard our borders with courage." The post was accompanied by the Indian flag and praying hands emojis, concluding with a hopeful message: 'Hindustan aabaad rahe hamesha (May India always prosper)." Faruqui, in a previous statement, commended the Indian Armed Forces in a tweet that lauded them for their "much-needed response to the enemies of humanity." His message resonated with fans across social media. He now joins a growing list of stars who have lauded the army, navy and airforce, while also calling for peace. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
