Cartoonist Hemant Malviya created a disparaging cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS, leading to an FIR being filed against him. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the cartoonist informed the Supreme Court that he would publish an apology on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms for creating the offensive cartoon of the RSS and PM.
During the hearing of his petition for anticipatory bail in a case filed against him in Madhya Pradesh, Advocate Vrinda Grover appeared on behalf of Malviya before a bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria and made this statement. She stated on Malviya’s behalf that he had already submitted an apology as per the previous order. She further added that the cartoon would be removed from all social media platforms, even if it was related to a Facebook post, and that he would also publish an apology on his social media account.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Natraj appeared on behalf of the state of Madhya Pradesh and stated that the post should not be removed as the investigation was ongoing. ASG Natraj suggested that the apology should be published on social media along with a statement that he would not repeat such actions and that he may cooperate with the investigation.
The bench agreed and ordered Malviya to publish an apology within 10 days. The bench extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Malviya until the next hearing. The case pertains to the anticipatory bail of Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya. The Supreme Court has extended the stay on Hemant Malviya’s arrest.
Cartoonist Hemant Malviya informed the Supreme Court that he would apologize on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms for creating a cartoon of PM Modi and the RSS. The Supreme Court agreed.
Malviya has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had denied him anticipatory bail. The case is related to the FIR filed against him under the Indian Penal Code and Section 67A of the IT Act.
According to the FIR, Malviya’s cartoon depicted a man in RSS uniform with his shorts pulled down, and Prime Minister Modi injecting him. The post also contained some statements related to Lord Shiva, which the High Court termed as “offensive.”
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Malviya stated that the cartoon was, in fact, a satire on the ongoing discussions regarding the impact of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. He claimed that another social media user later re-shared the same cartoon, adding a comment on the caste census, which he only shared, not supported.
During the previous hearing (July 15), the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over some of the cartoons published by Malviya and discussed the need for guidelines regarding freedom of expression.
