Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui encountered legal trouble after being among 14 individuals detained in a raid at a hookah parlour in Mumbai. The raid, which took place in the city’s Fort area, resulted in the seizure of cash and hookah pots, and a case was filed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. Despite the incident, Faruqui, who gained fame on YouTube and as the winner of reality TV show ‘Bigg Boss 17’, was released as the charges were bailable. This was confirmed by a Mumbai police official.
The Fort area raid began around 10.30 pm on Tuesday and concluded by 5 am on Wednesday. Alongside Faruqui, others present were found smoking hookahs, but were later allowed to leave after being served notices. The incident follows a challenging period for Faruqui, who has previously faced legal actions for hurting religious sentiments, causing him to briefly consider quitting comedy. However, in 2022, he re-emerged on the reality TV show ‘Lock Upp’, emerging as the first season’s winner. His current entanglement with the law marks yet another controversy in his career.
The incident reminds us of recent legal developments involving Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner Elvish Yadav. Faruqui shared his reaction to Yadav’s arrest and subsequent bail over a snake venom case, expressing his empathy and relief towards Yadav’s release. Faruqui’s detentions, both past, and present, underscore the various challenges often faced by public figures in India, particularly those who are outspoken or part of the entertainment industry.