AIB roast hurt Muslim sentiments, claims petition

A resident of Mumbai has filed an application in the Bombay high court, alleging the roast show organised by the AIB in December 2014 hurt the Muslim community’s sentiments. The petitioner has sought criminal action against the show’s organisers.

A resident of Mumbai has filed an application in the Bombay high court, alleging the roast show organised by the AIB in December 2014 hurt the Muslim community’s sentiments. The petitioner has sought criminal action against the show’s organisers.

The-AIB-Roast-an-event-featuring-several-noted-names-from-the-film-industry-and-the-comedy-group-AIB-YouTube-grab

Shadaab Patel, 34, a Bandra resident, filed the application in a pending public interest litigation filed by Dr Sharmila Ghuge. Patel in his application pointed out that though the PIL only mentions the show hurting religious sentiments of Sindhi and Christian communities, Muslims have also been insulted.

Patel alleged the offending part was one of the roasters being called a “Muslim Santa Claus” for distributing motorcycles to participants of a reality show.

“This is derogatory and disrespectful to the community,” Patel has claimed in his plea.

Patel has also submitted that during the event, the artistes used indecent and obscene language under the garb of a comedy show. The contents of the show were derogatory to various religious groups and hence can be considered offences under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (hurting religious sentiments), he has claimed.

“Freedom of speech and expression is always subject to reasonable restrictions. In exercise of the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, it should not be presumed a person has the right to go to any extent of using obscene, derogatory and insulting utterances causing disharmony,” it adds.