Indian Comedian Kiku Sharda Arrested for Mimicking Spiritual Leader [VIDEO]

Indian Police from Haryana state arrested comedian Kiku Sharda from Mumbai following the complaint that he mimicked spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and made fun of his followers.

Sharda, who plays the role of Palak on the popular TV show Comedy Nights with Kapil, was sentenced to a 14-day judicial custody. 

The TV actor was arrested for mimicking Preacher Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and was booked under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code which states that anyone who deliberately hurt religious sentiment by either spoken or written words or by signs or by visible representations should be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to four years, or with fine, or with both.

According to Indian Express, an official complaint was raised against him on Jan. 1, for imitating Sirsa-based guru, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, on his TV show back on Dec. 27, 2015. After the arrest, the actor said that he didn't mean to hurt any sentiments of any community.

He was quoted by Hindustan Times as responding:

"I'm an artist who is given a role, a get-up and told what to do. I've already apologised. I did not mean to hurt anyone's religious sentiments. I am sorry, I was just following a script. Usually, if an objectionable word comes out while performing, it's edited by the channel. This is also the channel's responsibility."

Earlier in December 2015, Kiku had apologized on Twitter:

When the leader found out about the incident, he whole heartily accepted Sharda's apology and tweeted:

At the day of Sharda's arrest, chief judicial magistrate Nandita Kaushik remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days and later allowed a bail on a personal bond of $1500.