Advocate files complaint alleging religious insult, obscenity
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui has landed in legal trouble after a complaint was lodged against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through his JioHotstar show, Hafta Vasooli. Advocate Amita Sachdeva filed the complaint, accusing the show of promoting obscenity and disrespecting multiple religions.
Sachdeva shared a copy of her complaint on X, stating that she has requested an FIR against Faruqui under BNS Sections 196, 299, and 353, along with provisions of the IT Act. She alleged that the show violates cultural values, promotes vulgarity, and negatively influences society.
“The complaint has been sent via email and will be physically submitted & speed-posted on Monday. If no action is taken, I will approach the Court to ensure justice prevails! #MunawarFaruqui #LegalAction #ProtectOurCulture,” she wrote in her post.
This is not Munawar’s first brush with the law. On January 1, 2021, his stand-up show at Munro Cafe in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, was interrupted by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of BJP MLA Malini Gaur, who accused him of making malicious jokes about Hindu deities and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The following day, Faruqui was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police under India’s hate speech laws, despite no concrete evidence against him. His arrest was widely criticized for violating freedom of speech and artistic expression.
As of now, neither JioHotstar nor Faruqui has responded to the latest complaint.
