The case against Harsih Yadav (39), a cartoonist with Prabhat Kiran , who was arrested last year for a drawing of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is still pending in courts though he was released on bail, police sources said.
According to the Indore police, “a Muslim gentleman had complained about the cartoon as it had hurt his religious feelings.”
Mr. Yadav, who uses the pen name, ‘Musavvir’, drew an undressed Modi with his behind covered by a skull cap bearing a star and crescent symbol.
“It was not really perceived as a caricature of Mr. Modi but rather as an insult to a particular religion and perhaps that is what hurt some people,” Inspector-General Anuradha Shankar told The Hindu .
The cartoon, which appeared in the Indore-based eveninger on September 20 last, was apparently a reference to Mr. Modi refusing to accept a skull cap presented by a Muslim cleric during his three-day fast in Gujarat last year.
Mr. Yadav was arrested under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
Editor Prakash Purohit criticised the police action, claiming it was an infringement on the fundamental right to the freedom of speech and expression. He said there was nothing objectionable in the cartoon and it was widely appreciated by readers.
