PM objectionable social media posts Cartoonist moves SC for anticipatory bail
PM objectionable social media posts
Cartoonist moves SC for anticipatory bail
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear on July 14, the plea filed by Hemant Malviya challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him relief after advocate Vrinda Grover sought an urgent hearing in the matter.
The High Court had observed that it was gross misuse of freedom of speech.
Ms. Grover submitted that the matter pertained to a cartoon which Mr. Malviya made in 2021 during COVID-19. The High Court said no landmark cases like in Arnesh Kumar and Imran Pratapgarhi, which dealt with life and liberty, would be followed.
She submitted that the High Court has condemned the cartoonist, “The offence is under which BNS, which entails a maximum of three years of punishment,” Ms. Grover submitted.
Justice Dhulia ordered that the matter will be listed on July 14 before the appropriate bench.
On July 3, the High Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to Mr. Malviya.
Complaint against him
A FIR was registered against Malviya at Lasudiya police station of Indore in May on the complaint of a local lawyer and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker Vinay Joshi.
Malviya hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and disturbed communal harmony by uploading objectionable material on social media, the complaint alleged.
The FIR mentioned various “objectionable” posts, including allegedly inappropriate comments on Lord Shiva as well as cartoons, videos, photographs and comments regarding Modi, RSS workers and others.
News Edit KV Raman
