Comedian Kiku Sharda held for imitating Dera sect head

A police team including an officer from Kaithal police station in Haryana arrested comedian Kiku Sharda (40) around 12.30 am on Wednesday from the sets of comedy show Comedy Nights with Kapil in Goregaon east for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of members of the Dera Sacha Sauda because he imitated their spiritual guru Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (48).

“The team waited as Sharda completed the shoot of an episode after which he was placed under arrest and taken by flight to Delhi and then from there to Haryana,” said an official from the Aarey sub-police. He was produced before a local magistrate’s court in Haryana that sent him to judicial custody. He can now apply for bail.

An FIR was registered with the police station on January 1 under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.) of IPC. According to the complaint, Sharda had imitated the guru in an episode of Comedy Nights, which had aired late in December. Singh is the head of the Dera Sacha Sauda, a religious sect in Haryana with followers in other parts of the country.

In his response Sharda said, “If I’ve hurt anyone’s sentiments, I fold my hands and apologise to everyone.” Speaking on behalf of the sect, Aditya Insan said, “The act was very derogatory and distasteful. We want him to be punished. The Indian Constitution has given us the right to initiate action on any person who hurts our religious sentiments.”