Actor apologized earlier for his act.
By Sreekanth A Nair
Stand-up comedian and popular actor in the TV show “Comedy Nights with Kapil” Kiku Sharda, was arrested by Haryana Police for mimicking Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, on Wednesday.
Sharda was sent to 14 days judicial custody on Wednesday by a court in Haryana’s Kaithal town, hours after his arrest in Mumbai.
The actor was arrested on Wednesday evening and released on a surety bond of Rs.1 lakh by the Kaithal court. But he was arrested again by Haryana Police from Fatehabad district for the same offence.
A Haryana Police officer said: “He (Kiku) was booked for hurting the religious sentiments of the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect. There were two complaints, one in Kaithal and another in Fatehabad, against him.”
A case was registered against Sharda and eight others under section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief), following a complaint by a Dera Sacha Sauda follower.
Sharda was arrested by a Haryana Police team while he was shooting for another show in Mumbai early on Wednesday. He is likely to be produced in the Fatehabad court on Thursday.
He was brought to Kaithal town in Haryana, 135 Km. from here, on Wednesday by police and produced before a court which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.
“In the show (‘Jashn-E-Ummeed’), he (Kiku) was shown dressed up like our respected guruji. He was shown with liquor and dancing with two girls. He did a mockery of guruji. Whosoever saw it, their feelings were hurt,” Uday Singh, a follower told media persons.
The show, in which Sharda dressed up like the sect chief, was aired on December 27, 2015.
But the actor had apologized, saying he never intended to hurt anyone. He said he was an artist and “presented the program on the directions of the channel and program producers”.
“Friends, the act was not to hurt anyone’s feelings. My apologies to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Ji and his followers. Let’s spread happiness,” Sharda had tweeted after the complaint was filed against him.
The attire and presentation of Sharda on that show resembled the dress, including a colorful cap, that the godman had worn in his own film recently.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday refused to be drawn into the controversy.
“The government has no role. A complaint was filed with the police and action followed. The police will act as per law,” Khattar said here.
“It is a thing of law and order. Somebody has lodged an FIR. Police will take action as per law. But we want to assure you that no one will be victimized unnecessarily,” Khattar added.
The sect chief had found himself in the midst of a major controversy in May 2007 when he was accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs and booked by Punjab Police.
Meanwhile, twitterati condemned the arrest and showed their support to Sharda.
Kapil Sharma, who shares screen space with Sharda on “Comedy Nights With Kapil”, tweeted: “I have a humble request to Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji ‘Insaan’ that he should come forward before the media and stand in favour of an artist, who is trying to entertain and spread happiness, and set a beautiful example of humanity. Let’s come and work towards peace and happiness.”
Tarek Fatah wrote, “Indian stand-up comic #KikuSharda arrested for mimicking ‘God man’ Gurmeet Ram Rahim who BTW mimics God.”
Suhel Seth wrote “Kiku Sharda should be awarded for mimicking a mimic. Poor chap. Who’d waste time on that Ram Rahim Gurmeet bloke?”
Sonu Sood posted an image of deities looking down from heaven and asking themselves, “Shouldn’t the godman be booked for mimicking us? He also commented “So true. Wake up India. It’s 2016.. @kikusharda bro we R with u. #WeStandWithKikuSharda”