Madhya Pradesh High Court adjourns comedian Munawar Faruqui’s bail hearing for a week after police fails to produce case diary

The Madhya Pradesh High Court today adjourned the bail application filed by comedian Munawar Faruqui after the police failed to produce the case diary’ before the Bench. The case is now listed after one week (Nalin Yadav v. State of Madhya Pradesh)..Faruqui was arrested on allegations that he made derogatory remarks against Hindu Gods during a recent stand-up show. A complaint to this effect was reportedly filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur, chief of Hindutva organisation Hind Rakshak Sangathan..Pursuant to the complaint, the police had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Faruqui and four others - Nalin Yadav, Edvin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas and Priyam Vyas..They were charged under Section 295A (deliberately intending to outrage religious feelings), Section 298 (deliberately intending to wound religious feelings, Section 269 (negligent act likely to cause or spread disease) and Section 188 disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code..Faruqui, who was arrested on January 1 by the Madhya Pradesh Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, had applied for bail on January 2 before the Sessions Court. After hearing both the sides, the Sessions Court rejected the bail application, observing that there are no grounds for bail and given the seriousness of the case. Following this order, the four were sent to judicial custody till January 13. The quartet then approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging this order..During today's hearing, Justice Rohit Arya of the High Court was informed by the police that the case diary was not available with them. In this light, the Court noted in its order,“Heard through Video conferencing, case diary is not available. List after one week.”.The matter has been listed for January 22. Advocate Ankit Dhige appeared for Faruqui and other applicants. The State was represented by Advocate Kirti Patwardhan.