Munawar Faruqui released from Indore prison day after getting interim bail

Indore: Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui walked out of Indore central jail late on Saturday night, a day after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a case for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Faruqui was released from the jail after the prison authorities received the order of the Supreme Court, an official of the jail said. Arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, Faruqui was in Indore jail since 1 January. On Friday, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail after the Madhya Pradesh High Court had rejected his bail plea on 28 January. The apex court also stayed the production warrant issued against Faruqui by a court in Prayagraj in connection with an FIR lodged there. Eyewitnesses said that the comedian walked out of the jail silently and quietly, possibly to avoid a backlash in the wake of accusations made against him. Media persons also flocked outside the jail after getting the news of his release. Sometime before his release , an official of the Indore central jail had said that a court in Prayagraj had ordered Faruqui’s production in a similar case on 18 February. Citing the jail manual, he said that an order from the Prayagraj court or a competent government officer was needed to release him.