Prominent Indian stand-up comedian, rapper, and musician Munawar Faruqui was one of several people taken into custody by Mumbai police following an early-morning search at a hookah parlour in Fort, south Mumbai.
The SS branch received a tip that led to the raid, which was carried out against the MRA Marg police station-affiliated hookah bar in Bora Bazar. Suspecting that the customers were smoking tobacco-based hookah while pretending it was herbal, the officials took more than a dozen people into custody, including Faruqui.
An officer stated, “Our team raided the hookah bar based on information suggesting tobacco use disguised as herbal. We have called in experts to determine the nature of the substances used. Faruqui is among those detained.” The incident has garnered attention due to Faruqui’s profile and underscores ongoing efforts to regulate such establishments.
The official stated that Faruqui and the others were charged under sections 283 (risk or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in addition to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act.
Faruqui and the others received notices from the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg police, he said and were then let go.
Munawar was also detained in 2021 on accusations of offending Hindu religious emotions with a joke that he made during a stand-up comedy show.
The son of BJP MP Eklavya Singh Gaud filed a complaint, leading to his detention along with four others. Munawar had been imprisoned for 37 days before being released on bail.
