Who Is Munawar Faruqui? Comedian Survives Alleged Hit Plot By Gangsters
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, a popular but often controversial figure in India’s comedy circuit, has once again found himself at the centre of a storm for surviving a plot to end his life.
Delhi Police on Thursday revealed to NDTV that two gangsters sent by international crime bosses Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar were arrested after an encounter, foiling an alleged plan to shoot the 33-year-old comedian in the capital.
According to senior officials, the Special Cell’s Counter-Intelligence Unit had received a tip-off about two sharpshooters moving around southeast Delhi on a motorcycle late at night.
Identified as Rahul (29) of Panipat and Sahil (37) of Bhiwani, both accused in a triple murder in Haryana, the men were ordered by their handlers to kill Faruqui in order to send a chilling message to the entertainment industry.
When intercepted by police near the Kalindi Kunj–Jaitpur Pushta road around 3 am, the duo opened fire at the security team. The police retaliated, injuring the men in the legs before taking them into custody. They were rushed to the hospital and later interrogated.
Investigations revealed that the shooters had tracked Faruqui for weeks. They reportedly carried out recces in both Mumbai and Bengaluru, lying in wait outside one of his show venues in Bengaluru.
However, a last-minute change of vehicle allowed Faruqui to leave unnoticed, derailing the plan. Finally, their handlers ordered them to regroup in Delhi, where the police swooped in before the plot could be executed.
Delhi Police officials told NDTV tht the gangsters were acting on instructions from Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar, both operating from abroad and linked to multiple high-profile crimes in India.
Their motive, according to investigators, was not only to punish Faruqui for his jokes that they claimed hurt religious sentiments but also to create terror among celebrities, paving the way for extortion.
The same syndicate, police noted, was allegedly behind the firing outside actress Disha Patani’s house in Bareilly earlier this year.
For Faruqui, this is yet another chapter in a career marked by success and controversy.
Born in Gujarat and raised in Madhya Pradesh, he has built a reputation as one of the most-watched comedians in India, winning fans for his witty, observational humour but also facing backlash for his sharp takes on religion and society.
In 2021, he was arrested in Madhya Pradesh on allegations of insulting Hindu deities, spending more than a month in jail before being released on bail.
He was also detained briefly last year during a Mumbai police raid on an illegal hookah bar but was later released.
Despite these setbacks, Faruqui’s shows continue to sell out across India, and he has amassed a large following online.
His popularity, however, has made him a target for extremists and criminal syndicates looking to stir fear and gain notoriety.
Rahul, one of the arrested men, is believed to have been involved in a sensational triple murder in Yamunanagar in December 2024 and was wanted in several other cases, including possession of illegal arms in Rajasthan.
Sahil, his associate, has been linked to financial fraud cases pending in courts in Bhiwani and Sirsa. Both men, police said, had a history of acting as hired guns for Godara’s gang.
