After severe criticism from the organizations at home and overseas, the suddenly famous cartoonist Aseem Trivedi had been granted a bail for a nominal surety amount of Rs 5000 by the Bombay High Court after he produced in the court with charges of sedition, insulting the parliament and the national emblem.

Trivedi had earlier decided not to seek bail, saying he was “not doing anything wrong” until the sedition charges were dropped. Sedition charges under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, along with other offenses under the Information Technology Act have been leveled against him. The charges of sedition show hints of being dropped with his bail being granted.

On Saturday night he was arrested after he surrendered to the police and he was produced at the magistrate court which had ordered seven days of custody with the police. The police have decided not to interrogate him any further after one day and had taken him to the court which had ordered a judicial custody until 24th September before he was granted bail today.

The India government had to face the criticism from several national and international organizations for its intolerance against dissent, which had the aura of colonial laws and not democracy, which allowed freedom of expression.

(AW- Anil)