Mumbai: Actor Kiku Sharda during the screening of film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karu in Mumbai, on Sep. 25, 2015. (Photo: IANS)
“Wrong”, “absurd” and “insane” are some of the words that Bollywood celebrities like Rishi Kapoor, Boman Irani, Anurag Kashyap and Sonakshi Sinha have used to condemn Haryana Police’s decision to arrest actor Kiku Sharda following a complaint that he spoofed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha Sauda sect.
Kiku, best known for acting in popular TV show “Comedy Nights With Kapil”, was sent to 14 days judicial custody on Wednesday by a court in Haryana’s Kaithal town, hours after his arrest here. He was released on a surety bond of Rs.1 lakh by the Kaithal court later.
ALSO READ: ‘Comedy Nights’ Actor Kiku Sharda Released On Bail, Arrested Again For Mimicking Dera Chief
However, he was arrested again by Haryana Police, this time from Fatehabad district (near Hisar), for the same offence. He is likely to be presented before a Fatehabad court on Thursday.
Kiku was accused by sect follower Uday Singh of dressing up like Gurmeet Ram Rahim and mimicking the self-proclaimed godman in the show “Jashn-E-Ummeed”.
Outraged by the arrest, here’s what the celebs tweeted:
See this picture!I would like to play this rockstar in a film. Let me see who puts me behind bars? Go Kiku Sharda! pic.twitter.com/8Dfre237NY
— rishi kapoor (@chintskap) January 13, 2016
pic.twitter.com/Glcn3N7Dvo
— KAPIL (@KapilSharmaK9) January 13, 2016
A country where everything is sacred except laughter #KikuSharda
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) January 13, 2016
First things first, If the man has sincerely apologised could someone please put him out of his misery!!! #kikusharda
— Boman Irani (@bomanirani) January 13, 2016
In a series of tweets, Anurag Kashyap wrote:
Gurmeet Ram Rahim insults the sensibilities of anyone who is sixth class pass with his MSG films.. Why is he not arrested???
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 13, 2016
Really the man who has to call himself Insaan to prove he is maybe a human, is of such weak disposition that he gets a comic arrested..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 13, 2016
Really the man who has to call himself Insaan to prove he is maybe a human, is of such weak disposition that he gets a comic arrested..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 13, 2016
Living in the times where one can get arrested for laughing lampooning and imitation .. will I get arrested for tweeting next? #outrage
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) January 13, 2016
Someone imitates god – nothing. Kiku imitates someone – gets arrested. This is wrong on SO many levels its not even funny.
— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) January 13, 2016
So true.. Wakeup India. It’s 2016.. @kikusharda bro we R with u. #WeStandWithKikuSharda pic.twitter.com/nHmIBUjipb
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) January 13, 2016
So a professional comedian can be jailed for recognising an unintentional one. No laughing matter.
— AMRITA KATIYAL (@NimratOfficial) January 13, 2016
The agenda is to systemically silence all opinion & free speech. So no one can question anything anymore. Can’t everyone see it? #KikuSharda
— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) January 14, 2016
These are the “Babas” of our times. Selling themselves as action heroes, while getting comedians put behind bars. This is “Ghor Kalyug”!
— रanviर_ डhoरeय_ (@RanvirShorey) January 13, 2016