FIR against Shekhar Suman, comedian Bharti, Sony in Mumbai

According to police, a representative from Raza Academy, a Muslims body, approached them and lodged a complaint against the four alleging that a joke was cracked in the show 'Comedy Circus' that was insulting towards the religion and was intolerable.

The FIR under IPC sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) was registered against the channel, Suman, Singh and the scriptwriter yesterday following the complaint, Senior Inspector, Pydhonie Police Station, Pathan Samsher.

Raza Academy's representatives have also approached Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil, who assured them to look into the issue. The recorded version of the joke was also shown to the minister.

Singh in an episode of Comedy Circus, co-hosted by Shekhar Suman, aired last week allegedly took a dig at a Quranic verse, with Suman repeating the same, police said.

Police would see that recorded version and take appropriate action against the person or organisation concerned, said Pathan adding further probe was on.