Comedian Munawar Faruqui Among 15 Apprehended in Mumbai Hookah Bar Raid

Mumbai, 27th March 2024: Standup comedian and Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui, along with 14 others, was apprehended by Mumbai police late Tuesday night for allegedly partaking in tobacco-based hookah consumption at a hookah bar in south Mumbai.

According to a police official, a team conducted a raid on a hookah bar named Sabalan and discovered 15 individuals engaging in hookah consumption, including Faruqui. Following confirmation of tobacco usage, an offence was filed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act at the local MRA Marg police station.

Given that it was a bailable offence, the accused were not incarcerated, as clarified by a police officer.

Faruqui had previously made headlines in 2021 when he was arrested in Indore after a complaint from a BJP MLA’s son, who accused him of making jokes about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His arrest sparked widespread criticism, and Faruqui was eventually released after being granted bail by the Supreme Court.