Bala G, the cartoonist arrested from his residence in Chennai on Sunday by the Tirunelveli police for his caricature depicting Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami, was granted bail today.

The freelance cartoonist drew a caricature showing CM Palaniswami, the police commissioner of Tirunelveli and the local district collector all covering their private parts with currency notes while a person lay burning in front of them.

Bala’s cartoon was an attempt to censure the three for being unable to help a distressed family who recently set themselves on fire outside the Tirunelveli Collectorate after their complaints of being harassed were not addressed.

Following the publication of the cartoon, Bala was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 501 (Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory) and Section 67 (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information and Technology (IT) Act.

After his release on bail today, Bala told the media, “I am also a journalist. I did not  commit murder.  don’t regret for this cartoon. I will continue to highlight the inefficiency of the government through my cartoon. I will continue to draw cartoons.”

Tirunelveli District Court granted bail to cartoonist Bala who was arrested y’day for his caricature on Tamil Nadu CM & Police Commissioner. pic.twitter.com/OVFGcGNGVL

– ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2017

This is not the first stint with controversy for Bala. In 2014, he made a cartoon featuring DMK chief Karunanidhi and Congress leader Kushboo that was deemed highly sexist and distasteful.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cartoonist-bala-bail-arrest-cartoon-mocking-tn-cm/1/1083153.html