Performer says a social media video about Google Maps during regional tensions led to his arrest and eventual deportation to India
Indian comedian Yash Bhardwaj has revealed that he was detained in Dubai for 47 days before being deported to India, following a social media post that authorities reportedly viewed as a security concern.
In an Instagram post shared recently, Bhardwaj described the experience as one of the most difficult periods of his life, saying it had a significant emotional, physical and financial impact on both him and his family.
According to the comedian, the incident stemmed from a comedy reel he uploaded in March. The video joked about Google Maps allegedly malfunctioning in Dubai amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Bhardwaj said he was performing at a comedy gig in Dubai on March 19 when he received a call from Dubai Police instructing him to report to police headquarters immediately. He later learned that authorities had concerns about the content of the reel.
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In his statement, Bhardwaj described the video as a “harmless” and “dumb” joke, but said officials did not view it that way
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He claimed he was detained and arrested as a perceived national security threat before being held in a detention centre for 47 days
After spending several weeks in custody, Bhardwaj was deported and returned to India on May 5. Since then, he has been based in Mumbai, where he says he has gradually resumed normal life and returned to performing on stage.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the comedian said the experience placed considerable strain on his family and disrupted their lives. However, he added that things have steadily improved in recent weeks and that he has been able to restart his professional activities sooner than expected.
Looking ahead, Bhardwaj said he plans to spend the next few weeks in Bengaluru, a city he described as central to the early years of his comedy journey, as he begins what he called a new chapter in his life.
