High drama at stadium, hotel in Delhi over ‘threat to life’ of comedian Munawar Faruqui

NEW DELHI: High drama unfolded at the IGI indoor stadium and The Suryaa hotel in south Delhi on Sunday evening after Delhi Police received intelligence about a potential threat to stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, said sources.

Following a coordinated operation at both locations, Faruqui left for Mumbai, while an extensive investigation has been launched into the matter. Sources indicated that Faruqui's security arrangements were being assessed.

Faruqui and YouTuber Elvish Yadav were participating in Entertainers Cricket League 2024 and staying at the same hotel, sources revealed. Police got a hint about the potential threat on Saturday night when they were interrogating the suspects apprehended in connection with the shooting incident at Greater Kailash-I, which resulted in the murder of businessman Nadir Shah.

During questioning, the suspects disclosed that they had recently been instructed to conduct reconnaissance of The Suryaa for a targeted murder. The accused subsequently carried out recce on two-three occasions, but were not informed about the intended target. Later, they received orders to eliminate the businessman, which was executed on Thursday night. At present, it remains unclear if Shah was the intended target at the hotel, and police are investigating whether he frequented the hotel regularly.

As police delved further into the suspects' revelation about the hotel reconnaissance, they were alerted to a plot targeting Faruqui, who was also a guest at the hotel. Police promptly mobilised and formed two teams — one rushed to the hotel while the other proceeded to the IGI stadium where Yadav was scheduled to compete against Faruqui.

Chaos ensued as police officers flooded the stadium. Numerous videos and footage of the match circulated on social media, depicting officers evacuating the stadium to restore order. In compliance with security protocols, entry gates were sealed and clips of the fans exiting the stadium also surfaced.

Initially, the commotion appeared to be the consequence of alleged threats against Yadav, an officer said. The local police had limited information about the incident. "We were merely instructed to enhance security at the stadium where a match between two teams named Haryanvi Hunters and Mumbai Disruptors was scheduled to take place," said a police officer from the south district.

Concurrently, the team at the hotel, led by DCP Pratiksha Godara, meticulously inspected the premises and scrutinised the entry and exit points, besides verifying the identity of the guests. According to a hotel staffer, Faruqui was staying on the first floor, which was also examined by police.

TOI observed heightened security at the hotel, with numerous plain-clothes officers stationed there. Godara eventually persuaded Faruqui to take precautions and he ultimately departed for Mumbai. Faruqui later told TOI that he left as he had a flight to catch and declined to comment on the issue, citing security concerns.


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