FIR registered against scribes over Bala’s cartoon

They placed banners obstructing traffic, say police

chennai 05—11-2017,Tamil Nadu. A cartoonist Bala 36, got arrested today in Chennai for a "demeaning" cartoon that blamed top government functionaries including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami of not acting against loan sharks. He has been charged with publishing defamatory and obscene material under the penal code and information technology act, with crimes punishable for five years jail. Photo: Special Arrangement

The Triplicane police has registered an FIR against three journalists, including cartoonist Bala, on charges of causing hindrance to traffic and the public by displaying digital banners of a contentious cartoon, whose publication led to Mr. Bala’s arrest.

Mr. Bala, Chennai Press Club joint secretary Barathi Thamizhan and Asadullah have been booked under sections of the Tamil Nadu Open Places (Prevention) of Disfigurement Act and the Press and Registration of Books Act.

According to the FIR, on November 7, at 5.30 p.m, Triplicane sub-inspector M. Maruthu was patrolling the MLA Hostel Road near the press club, when he saw digital banners of the cartoon based on a usury-related public immolation of a family.

The FIR states that the banners were placed in a manner that caused hindrance to traffic and the public.

Subsequent to Mr. Bala’s arrest in November, journalists registered their protest by displaying large banners of the cartoon.