Twitterati express shock over TV actor Kiku Sharda's arrest

Twitterati expressed shock and disbelief over the arrest of 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' actor Kiku Sharda for mimicking Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Here are some reactions to the news...

Twitterati expressed shock and disbelief over the arrest of 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' actor Kiku Sharda for mimicking Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Kiku Sharda, who became a household name after essaying the role of 'Palak' on the television show 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', has been sent to 14 days judicial custody. (Read more)

The actor has been booked under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief. (Read more)

Kiku Sharda. Picture courtesy: Kiku Sharda's Twitter account  

As soon as the news broke, tweets started pouring in in support of Kiku Sharda with many using hashtags #WeStandWithKikuSharda, #IStandWithKikuSharda and #FreeKiku.

Here is what some B-Town and TV celebs had to say:

WTH?!!!!!! This is insane!!! We have really lost the ability to laugh at ourselves.. Hope u ok @kikusharda https://t.co/tO23bDa4gn

— SOPHIE CHOUDRY (@Sophie_Choudry) January 13, 2016

#Asaram key witness gets killed or go missing , Ram Rahim using films to do money laundry . And who gets arrested @kikusharda

— Rahul Mahajan (@TheRahulMahajan) January 13, 2016

Section 295A for the longest time has been used to threaten artists. Even cops sometimes cant help but arrest because of the pressure.

— Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) January 13, 2016

Absolutely ridiculous! Hope @kikusharda comes out of this soon

— Kritika Kamra (@Kritika_Kamra) January 13, 2016

Heard @kikusharda 's been remanded to judicial custody for mimicking RamRahim on TV! Absurd! RamRahim's 'films' are the real joke, anyway!

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 13, 2016

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!

— रanviर_ डhoरeय_ (@RanvirShorey) January 13, 2016

.@PMOIndia @narendramodi Request you to please look into the arrest of actor @kikusharda. Gross injustice by Maharashtra & Haryana govts.

— रanviर_ डhoरeय_ (@RanvirShorey) January 13, 2016

Comedy brings joy ), unites people in laughter! Religious-leaders prey on the insecurity of 'followers', are a blight on humanity! #FreeKiku

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 13, 2016

Totally shocked by Kiku Sharda's arrest! Let's fight for #ourfreedomofspeech.

— Parmeet Sethi (@parmeetsethi) January 13, 2016

Again..We are so easy to offend. This is a comedy show for f*^@s sake!! It's MEANT to show us the lighter side. Oof! https://t.co/lHn5Z8yPFF

— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) January 13, 2016

Congratulations India on speedily arresting someone for comedy. Now maybe you can do the same for actual crime soon.

— Vir Das (@thevirdas) January 13, 2016

This is sad beyond words. Oppression of artists to save the religion-based frauds EVEN from jokes! Middle East hi bana do desh ko.

— वरà¥ÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0081ण (@varungrover) January 13, 2016

Where is the Insan Part in arresting someone for Mimicry ..

— Suresh Menon (@sureshnmenon) January 13, 2016

Here are some more reactions to the news:

Every time you arrest one comedian you give birth to a thousand wise cracks. #JeSuisKiku #IStandWithKiku #FreeKiku #KikuNeutrality

— Aditi Mittal (@awryaditi) January 13, 2016

Me not fan of 'kiku sharda' but his arrest for mimicking guru ram raheem is very sad.Now comedy will also come under ban list #Intolerance

— Amit Trehan (@AmTrehan) January 13, 2016

Kiku Sharda sent to jail for making fun of a baba? Looks like our country's sense of humor has gone Saudi

— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) January 13, 2016

I stand with Kiku Sharda, https://t.co/YCF9BapKJ4

— Pure Punjabi (@PardeepModgil) January 13, 2016

They arrested Kiku Sharda from Mumbai and brought back to Haryana overnight?? Bhai itna phurti Pathankot main bhi thoda dekha detey!!

— Shreekant Sahu (@SahuSKNT) January 13, 2016

Poster boys mocking religion n caste are roaming free and mimicry artists get arrested .Ppl dont understand humour? #WeStandWithKikuSharda

— Dr Jwala Gurunath (@DrJwalaG) January 13, 2016

#WeStandWithKikuSharda When did baba become Religion that Kiku hurt religious sentiments and if yes whether recognized by Govt

— Dinesh Pal (@paldinesh) January 13, 2016

How can Kiku Sharda be arrested under 295A ? Is Dera sacha sauda a religion ?

— à¤ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0095à¥ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u008bमल :) (@Komal_Indian) January 13, 2016

Kiku Sharda arrested for mimicking @Gurmeetramrahim ,who himself came to limelight by impersonating Guru Gobind Singh Ji !

— à¤ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0095à¥ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u008bमल :) (@Komal_Indian) January 13, 2016

Earlier, Kiku Sharda had taken to Twitter to apologise to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his followers.

Doston the act on TV was not to hurt anyone's feelings. My apologies to @Gurmeetramrahim ji and his followers. Let's spread happiness. ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u009fÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u0099ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂu00c2u008f

— kiku sharda (@kikusharda) December 28, 2015

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