The Supreme Court has directed the transfer of the cases lodged against comedian Munawar Faruqui—for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and insulting Home Minister Amit Shah—from their various different states to Indore, Madhya Pradesh, while also confirming the comedian’s previously ordered interim bail as “absolute”.

The bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol was hearing a plea asking the court to quash the police complaints against Faruqui for his remarks at a January 2021 show at an Indore cafe.

The apex court in its order stated, “Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances, and the previous order of this court, we are inclined to transfer all the complaints to Indore. We have already granted ad interim protection, the same is made absolute.”