On May 12, 2023, during the Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans match, the official broadcaster Star Sports had put themselves into controversy for inviting ‘comedian’ Munawar Farooqui for the IPL live match. The Munawar Farooqui was there with Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor and Star Sports experts.
Viewers got shocked and outraged their anger which led to #BoycottStarSports trending on social media. Netizens vent out their anger and expressed their displeasure over his presence on the live match. Many demanded to ban Star Sports and switch to JioCinema and Doordarshan.
In the year 2021, during his show at a coffee shop in Indore, Farooqui made some remarks on Hindu deities that made him arrested for hurting religious sentiments. On the complaint of Eklavya Singh Gaud, son of BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaud, he was sent to Indore Jail and was thus charged with ‘section 295- A’ that states deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs shall be punished. But later, Farooqui was released on bail.
His presence again on a live match made the viewers furious at the time and netizens, especially on Twitter, called for a boycott of Star Sports India.
