‘Why do you do all this?’ PM Modi, SC question cartoonist on posts on RSS says that ‘misconduct’ is being done, ‘India News

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that the right to speaking and the freedom of expression was being “abused” by hearing the anticipatory bail argument of cartoonist hemp Malavia, which has been booked on objectionable social media positions related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS workers.“Why do you do all this?” During the hearing, a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Arvind Kumar asked Malviya’s lawyer Vrinda Grover.Grover presented that Cartoon in question was made during the Kovid -19 epidemic in 2021 and said, “It may be inaccessible. I have to say that it is in bad taste. Let me go to that extent. But is it a crime? My Lords said, it can be aggressive but it’s not a crime. I am just a law. I am not trying to justify anything right. He also agreed to remove the post.Justice Dhulia remarked, “Whatever we can do with the case, but it is certainly the case that the freedom of speech and expression is being misused.”Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, told the court that such acts were repeatedly done. When Grover said how the issue is handled, it should have some maturity, Nataraja replied, “This is not a question of maturity alone. It’s something else.”Grover further stated that there was no law and order issue since the cartoon was published and was questioned whether arrest and remand were necessary in such a case related to personal freedom.The bench posted the case for hearing on 15 July. Grover requested interim security for Malavia until the next hearing, to the bench replied, “We will see it tomorrow.”Malavia contacted the apex court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea on 3 July on 3 July. He is facing allegations under several sections of the Indian Joint Code, including Section 196 (prejudice for the maintenance of harmony), section 299 (reducing religious sentiments), section 352 (deliberately insulting), and Section 67-A (sexually clear material online) of the IT Act.The case was filed on the basis of the complaint of RSS worker and lawyer Vinay Joshi, who alleged that Malavia hurt Hindu religious sentiments and harass communal harmony through objectionable material posted on social media. The FIR refers to several positions, including a cartoon, comment on Lord Shiva, and content associated with Modi and RSS members.Malavia’s lawyer had earlier told the High Court that he had posted only one cartoon and could not be responsible for the comments posted on it by other users.