This week, the Haryana Police came in a hurry to Mumbai and arrested comedian Kiku Sharda in response to a complaint filed by a follower of the spiritual guru's organization Dera Sacha Sauda. This provoked a whole lot of hate responses against Singh on Twitter.
Glamour girl Sonakshi Sinha tweeted, "Someone imitates god - nothing. Kiku imitates someone - gets arrested. This is wrong on SO many levels it's not even funny." Paresh Rawal also remarked, "You find it offensive?... I find it funny.... That's why I'm happier than you. #KikuSharda." Director Farah Khan posted, "In Bengal a cartoonist was n in Haryana a comedian is arrested!"
Posting a picture of Gurmeet Singh from his film MSG - The Messenger, even veteran Rishi Kapoor mocked Singh, "See this picture! I would like to play this rockstar in a film. Let me see who puts me behind bars? Go Kiku Sharda!"
Actress Nimrat Kaur sarcastically remarked, "So a professional comedian can be jailed for recognising an unintentional one. No laughing matter." Bollywood PR guru Dale Bhagwagar tweeted, "Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan has worked so hard to make MSG such a big brand. With some correct advice and apt handling, this Kiku Sharda controversy could have been avoided."
Even actress Huma Qureshi did not spare the Baba, saying, "Living in the times where one can get arrested for laughing lampooning and imitation .. will I get arrested for tweeting next? #outrage."
"Wakeup India. It's 2016.. @kikusharda bro we R with u. #WeStandWithKikuSharda." said actor Sonu Sood. Director Shirish Kunder joked, "Changing my bio to 'Godman'. I've 2.47 lakh followers. Anyone making fun of me will now be arrested under section 295A of IPC."
Producer Pritish Nandy tweeted, "Not the law, its law enforcers. They dance to the tune of VIP clowns. Sad to see #KikuSharda apologise." Boman Irani missed the point. He said, "First things first, If the man has sincerely apologised could someone please put him out of his misery!!! #kikusharda".
"Heard @kikusharda's been remanded to judicial custody for mimicking RamRahim on TV! Absurd! RamRahim's 'films' are the real joke, anyway!," tweeted music composer Vishal Dadlani. "Only a court in Haryana would want a comedian in custody, and criminals as law makers! @kikusharda isn't the one who should be in jail!" said actor Ranvir Shorey.
Director Anurag Kashyap added, "Gurmeet Ram Rahim insults the sensibilities of anyone who is sixth class pass with his MSG films.. Why is he not arrested??? 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."
