Two associates of Munawar Faruqui granted ad-interim bail by MP HC; three others continue to be in jail

The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday granted ad-interim bail to Prakhar Vyas and Edwin Anthony, associates of comedian Munawar Faruqui, who were arrested on January 2 along with him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during a stand-up comedy show.

A single bench of Justice Rohit Arya granted them ad-interim bail while issuing notice on the bail applications filed by them, Live Law has reported.

Three more persons arrested along with Faruqui - Nail Yadav (organizer of the comedy show), Priyam Vyas and Sadaqat Khan - continue to be in jail.

Faruqui was arrested on January 2 along with 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 was filed against them by Eklavya Singh Gaur (36), son of local BJP legislator Malini Laxman Singh Gaur.

On January 28, a single bench of Justice Rohit Arya of the MP High Court (Indore Bench) dismissed the bail applications filed by Faruqui and Nalin Yadav observing that no case was made out for grant of bail.

The bench observed that the investigation conducted so far suggested that "disparaging utterances, outraging religious feelings of a class of citizens of India with deliberate intendment, were made by the applicants".

Munawar Faruqui was granted ad-interim bail by Supreme Court on February 5, after he approached the SC, following dismissal of his bail application by the MP High Court.