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5d ago

Supreme Court to Hear Cartoonist’s Anticipatory Bail Plea on July 14

The hearing comes as Malviya contests charges under new penal provisions for a caricature deemed offensive to Hindu sentiments.

A picture of the Supreme Court's building.
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The Supreme Court of India. (File Photo)
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Overview

  • A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi scheduled the anticipatory bail petition for July 14 after Advocate Vrinda Grover sought urgent listing.
  • Malviya is charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 196, 299 and 352 and IT Act section 67A for allegedly promoting communal disharmony and outraging religious feelings.
  • Both a sessions court in Indore and the Madhya Pradesh High Court refused him anticipatory bail, citing misuse of free speech and the necessity of custodial interrogation.
  • His defense team argues the high court overlooked Supreme Court precedents in Arnesh Kumar v State of Bihar and Imran Pratapgarhi v State of Gujarat on bail and free-speech protections.
  • The FIR was lodged by RSS member Vinay Joshi over a 2021 COVID-era cartoon depicting Prime Minister Modi, RSS workers and a reference to Lord Shiva.