What Happened To Indore Comedian Nalin Yadav, Munawar Faruqui’s Co-Accused (image-Instagram/nalinsaaheb)
After being arrested with comedian Munawar Faruqui and five others in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in 2021, fellow comedian Nalin Yadav revealed that “relatives and known affiliates of the ruling party” have continued to harass him and his brother since his release.
While Faruqui’s story made headlines among news outlets, with several people coming in to support the comedian, Yadav’s turbulent journey has remained in the shadows, or, as the latter says, “situations aren’t the same for everyone.”
Sharing a video of him and his brother being physically assaulted by local goons, Yadav stated that in his hometown, he has a new identity as an “anti-nationalist.” Recounting the incidents of Yadav and his brother being harassed since the last three years (ever since his release from jail), the comedian took to Instagram, revealing that his brother’s leg was broken last year. Despite filing an FIR in November last year, Yadav claimed that “nothing happened.” However, two months later, “they broke the same leg, and again we filed an FIR (March 23), but nothing happened.”
After moving to a different city, the comedian received police warrant against him a month ago for “fighting with those goons,” which he was completely unaware of.
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In January 2021, a case had been filed against Faruqui, Yadav, and three others for their alleged jokes about Hindu deities. A day after right-wing activists stopped Faruqui’s show at Monroe Café in Indore, all the accused were arrested based on a complaint by Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of local BJP leader Malini Laxman Singh Gaur. Yadav claimed that he had opened the act and was arrested for “standing up for what’s right,” as quoted by The Quint.
Yadav spent 58 days in Indore jail, even though co-accused Faruqui had been released within 30 days. Notably, Faruqui has maintained his silence over the matter so far. Sharing his helpless situation, Yadav wrote, “We don’t know what to do, how to survive this situation, financially and mentally, we are broke.”
While Faruqui has since been famous for his stint in Bigg Boss 17, which he went on to win, and continues to post stand-up videos and music videos amassing millions of views, Yadav has been struggling to find work. With support withdrawn, venues cancelled hours before his show, Yadav has given up on his comedy career and struggled to make ends meet as a daily wage worker.
Meanwhile, among social media platforms, there is a growing criticism against Faruqui for his continued silence over the matter and his lack of support for friend and co-accused Yadav in the past few years.
“Today, I am not a comedian anymore. I am not that person who can find laughter in disguise. We are just waiting for justice one day, though I’m not so hopeful about that, but we are trying each and every other day,” he said.
