Delhi: Plot to kill stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui foiled; two held

Hyderabad: Delhi Police have foiled a plot to assassinate stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui. Two gangsters were arrested in an injured condition after a brief shootout

Police said the members of the Rohit Godara-Goldy Brar-Virender Charan gang were instructed to target the comedian for his past jokes on Hindu gods.

The Encounter in Delhi

According to Delhi Police, the counter-intelligence unit received a tip-off that Rahul and Sahil, accused in a 2024 triple murder case in Haryana, were in the capital. A trap was laid along the Kalindi Kunj-Pushta Road in the early hours of October 2.

At around 3 a.m., officers signaled a suspicious motorcycle to stop. “Instead of stopping, the suspects opened fire on the police team. In retaliation, our personnel fired back, injuring both men in the leg before taking them into custody,” an officer from the counter-intelligence wing said.

The two men were later identified as shooters linked to gangster Rohit Godara, who is currently believed to be operating from abroad along with Goldy Brar.

Reconnaissance in Multiple Cities

During interrogation, police said the suspects confessed to conducting surveillance of Faruqui in Mumbai and Bengaluru. At one event in Bengaluru, they allegedly waited outside the venue for him. However, the comedian exited in a different car, which foiled their plan.

“They were tasked specifically to monitor his movements and execute the killing. Their instructions came from gang leaders overseas,” an investigator added.

Gangsters Behind the Plot

The alleged masterminds, Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar, are known associates of larger transnational crime networks with roots in Punjab and Haryana. Both have previously been linked to targeted killings. Police said they were working in coordination with Virender Charan to carry out the hit.

Rahul, one of the arrested shooters, is already wanted for a triple murder in Yamunanagar, Haryana (December 2024). Arms recovered from the site of the encounter have been sent for forensic testing.

Faruqui’s Background and Past Run-Ins with Law

Munawar Faruqui, 33, has often faced criticism and legal action over his comedic material. In 2021, he was arrested in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly making offensive remarks about Hindu deities and spent over a month in jail before being granted bail.

In 2024, he rose to greater national visibility after winning Bigg Boss, a popular reality show, and currently has more than 14 million Instagram followers. Last year, he was briefly detained during a Mumbai Police raid on an illegal hookah bar but was later released on bail.

What’s Next

Delhi Police confirmed that Rahul and Sahil are now in custody and receiving medical treatment. The investigation has been expanded to track communication between the shooters and gang leaders abroad.