Comedian arrested with Munawar Faruqi in 2021 says ‘career ruined, being harassed’

Nalin Yadav, who had gone to jail in 2021 along with comedian Munawar Faruqui, has said that his career ended after the case

Nalin Yadav, who had gone to jail in 2021 along with comedian Munawar Faruqui, has said that his career ended after the case. Mr. Yadav alleged that he and his family are being harassed in his hometown near Indore.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, Mr. Yadav, 28, alleged that he and his 20-year-old brother, Akash Yadav, are being harassed for three years by some people “who are relatives and known affiliates of the ruling party”. He shared a video of an alleged incident from March.

Mr. Yadav is a native of Pitampur town in Dhar district but had left his hometown shortly after being released from jail. His brother, however, continues to live there.

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Mr. Faruqui was arrested on January 1, 2021, before he could perform in Indore, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through comments in his previous shows. Mr. Yadav, who had performed in that show, and four others were also held. The arrests were made after a complaint from Eklavya Gaur, son of Indore MLA and former Mayor Malini Gaur. While Mr. Faruqui spent over a month in jail in Indore, Mr. Yadav was released on bail after 57 days.

“In my hometown, I have a new identity as an anti-nationalist. There are a few people who are relatives and known affiliates of the ruling party, who have been harassing my brother and me for three years now,” he wrote in the post and said that the family are “broke financially and mentally”.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Yadav said some locals had started targeting him after he came out of the jail.