5.25 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Indian TV comedian arrested for offensive act on spiritual guru

(FILES) This file photo of the Indian chief of the religious sect Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh shows him gesturing during a news conference to launch the score for his film 'MSG-2 The Messenger' in Mumbai on September 8, 2015. Indian police arrested popular comedian Kiku Sharda on January 12, 2016 for hurting religious sentiments after he mimicked controversial "godman" Ram Rahim Singh on a television show, an official said. Ram Rahim Singh was already also under police investigation for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to God. AFP

Published
By AFP

Indian police have arrested a popular comedian for offending religious sentiments after he mimicked a controversial spiritual guru on a television show, an official said Wednesday.

Kiku Sharda, 40, was sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a court in northern Haryana state after he was arrested in Mumbai late Tuesday, a senior police officer told AFP.

Kiku Sharda. Twitter

"A police team arrested the accused at a TV studio in Mumbai late last night following a complaint filed by one of the guru's followers," he said on the condition of anonymity.

Sharda, who imitated guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a TV appearance on December 27, has apologised for his act, saying it was only aimed at entertaining audiences.

"I was given a dress, a script to read and directed to act," he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

Singh, who heads the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, is known as the "guru in bling" for his penchant for garish clothes and jewellery.

Dera Sacha Sauda describes itself as a social welfare and spiritual organisation with millions of followers in India and abroad.

The 48-year-old guru is already under police investigation for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to God.

On its website, the group describes Singh as a saint as well as an author, inventor, scientist, philosopher, philanthropist, peace activist and "the ultimate humanitarian".

Singh has also featured in two action movies and many music videos.

Many celebrities came out in support of Sharda on Twitter Wednesday, calling his arrest "shocking" and "absurd".

"I don't see our leaders getting arrested for behaving like comedians everyday," tweeted fellow comedian Vir Das.