Actor Kiku Sharda, known for his comic role in popular TV show "Comedy Nights with Kapil", was sent to 14 days' judicial custody on Wednesday, hours after his arrest in Mumbai. The actor was booked by the Haryana Police following a complaint that he spoofed a controversial godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha Sauda sect.
"He was booked for hurting the religious sentiments of the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect," an officer of Haryana Police, which made the arrest, said here.
A complaint was filed against Kiku by a follower of the sect, the officer said. Kiku and eight others involved with the show ('Jashn-E-Ummeed') were booked by Haryana Police on January 1 under section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief).
Kiku was arrested by a Haryana Police team while he was shooting for another show in Mumbai early on Wednesday.
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.
Kiku was accused by sect follower Uday Singh of dressing up like controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and mimicking the self-proclaimed godman.
"In the show ('Jashn-E-Ummeed'), he (Kiku) was shown dressed up like our respected guruji. He was shown with liquor and did dance with two girls. He did mockery of guruji. Whosoever saw it, their feelings were hurt," Uday Singh, the complainant, told media persons.
The show, in which Kiku dressed up like the sect chief, was aired on December 27.
The actor had apologized, saying he never intended to hurt anyone. He said that he had only acted and dressed up as per the script of the show.
"Friends, the act was not to hurt anyone's feelings. My apologies to Gurmeet Ram Rahim-ji and his followers. Let's spread happiness," Kiku had tweeted after the complaint was filed against him.
The attire and presentation of Kiku on that show resembled the dress, including a colourful cap, that the godman had worn in his own film recently.
The godman had himself acted in two films -- "MSG: The Messenger" and "MSG 2 - The Messenger" -- last year. Both films were the home production of the godman and his sect.
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. The police will take action as per law. But we want to assure you that no one will be victimised unnecessarily," Khattar said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament and actor-comedian Bhagwant Mann told media persons that not much should be read into the whole issue.
"The aim of the artists is to entertain. They do mimicry of big artists. I don't think there was any need to arrest him (Kiku). I am very surprised (that this happened)," Mann said.
Kapil Sharma, who shares the screen space with Kiku on "Comedy Nights With Kapil", tweeted: "I have an humble request to Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singhji '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."
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 the Punjab Police.
Sikh organisations had accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim of wearing an attire in an advertisement, resembling the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
The controversy led to violent clashes between Sikhs and sect followers, particularly in south-west Punjab.
