Junagadh: Madhya Pradesh police has arrested five so called ‘standup comedians’ including Junagadh origin and Mumbai based Munawar Faruqi on January 1 for allegedly insulting Hindu gods and goddesses in Indore. Those arrested other than Faruqi are Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas and Nalin Yadav. They have been booked under India Penal Code’s Sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 298 (deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 34 (common intention).

FIR has been filed by a leader of Hindu Rakshak Sangathan for mocking Hinduism and Hindu deities in a stand-up show and making “indecent and disgraceful” remarks against Hindu Gods, Goddesses and customs. They also tried to downplay the Godhra carnage and insinuated that Amit Shah was behind it.

Cadres of Hindu Rakshak Sanstha entered a cafe in Indore, where the comedians were performing at a New Year’s event. On hearing the offensive jokes on Hinduism, the Hindu activists disrupted the program. They allegedly roughed up the comedians before taking them to Tukoganj police station, where an FIR was filed against them.

In the FIR, it was alleged that the event at the cafe was organised without permission and social distancing rules were violated there. The FIR added that vulgar jokes and provocative remarks were allegedly made at the event to hurt religious sentiments of Hindus.