Mumbai Police have slightly yearned to the demands of people nationwide and also the Home Minister for the state RR Patil that his custody with the police was unwarranted for his alleged crime of Sedition, after he was charged with Section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal code. They had given up on his custody by the members of the India Against Corruption had demanded that the charges of sedition be dropped first.
Aseem Trivedi, the cartoonist, had been arrested on the Saturday night after he had surrendered himself for allegedly dishonoring the national emblem and other controversial cartoons on sensitive issues. Trivedi also refused to appoint a lawyer to plead his case. The latest development is that he had refused to seek bail unless the sedition charges against him were dropped.
His arrest had become a national outcry and the police were the target of criticism from all corners of the nation. He was initially sent to the custody of police for a week, until September 16.
Manyak Gandhi, IAC member and friend of Trivedi, said that police officers would give up his custody soon after talking to the police.
RR Patil, the Home Minister for Maharashtra had earlier denied the action of the police saying that they had no sufficient charges to be pressed against him that mandated seeking a police custody.
Trivedi's friend and IAC member Mayank Gandhi met Trivedi and was told by the police officers that they would give up his custody soon. "The police investigation was complete. There was no need to seek police custody. I am looking into the matter. We will say so in court," Patil said.
His work was termed ugly and obscene after it was posted on his web portal.
Chairman of the Press Council, Justice Markandey Katju said that the police action was criminal. He said that the politicians should be more police and tolerant. He reminded them that the nation was a democratic nation and not dictatorship. He mentioned that there were several instances of the cartoonists publishing cartoons that mock the politicians. Arresting Trivedi on these charges was wrongfully done. “The policemen who've done that must be arrested instead."
IAC wanted Aseems unconditional release. "IAC demands that Aseem Trivedi be unconditionally released and all charges against him, including the baseless charge of sedition be withdrawn instantly," an IAC statement said.
It added that IAC stood for the freedom of expression and that it was distressed at the intolerance exhibited by the politicians against the creative expression of artists.
Aseem's parents also had the same opinion and also said that he was wrongfully framed for supporting India Agains Corruption.
"Why should the government arrest our son, a cartoonist when there are so many corrupt leaders roaming around freely? His cartoon was only helping draw attention to corruption," said Aseem's father Ashok Trivedi.
His mother Pratibha Trivedi, on the other hand, seconded his deeds saying that he had done nothing wrong. She also said she was proud of him denying that his actions were unpatriotic.
Mangeh Tendulkar, an avid cartoonist said that the government should have thought twice before making the arrest or pressing charges that the cartoons, though aggressive, were the most essential thing in democracy."
Aseem Trivedi who originally hailed from Kanpur was arrested after he posted few harsh and critical cartoons, falsely categorized as sedition, was arrested after he surrendered on Saturday. He was remanded to the police custody by a holiday court in Bandra after a lawyer had filed the complaint last year when he had displayed the controversial cartoons supporting India Against Congress.
Outside the court, a rebellious Trivedi said, "If telling the truth makes me traitor then I am one. Even Mahatma Gandhi was called traitor and if I am booked under sedition for doing service to the nation then I will continue to do so."
Trivedi was due to fly to Syria on Wednesday to receive a cartooning award.
Manyak Gandhi mentioned that if a person talks of corruption and calls it anti-national whilst framing charges of sedition, it should be understood that the criticism is directed against the government and not the country. He also added that Trivedi was not a member of IAC but a mere supporter fighting corruption and that they would back him in this fight with their moral support.
(AW- Anil)
