A Mumbai court sent Aseem Trivedi, a young cartoonist, to judicial custody for two weeks on charges of sedition and violating the information technology act after he drew a cartoon that mocked the corruption in the Indian government.
In his cartoon, Mr. Trivedi, an anti-corruption activist, substituted the three lions in India's national symbol with three wolves. After the cartoons circulated on social networking sites, a private citizen filed a complaint against him, and he surrendered to Mumbai police on Saturday. His is the latest cartoon to upset the Indian government.
On Monday, Mr. Trivedi was presented to the judicial magistrate in Mumbai's junior court by polic e. Mr. Trivedi said he refused to ask for bail unless the charge of sedition was dropped against him. As he left the court, he shouted anti-corruption slogans, raising his fist.
“I am not a traitor; I am a law-abiding citizen,†he said in a handwritten statement given to his sympathizers. “If raising a voice against injustice is sedition, then I am a traitor. I will not ask for bail.â€
Free speech advocates criticized the court's decision. Markandey Katju, chairman of the Press Council of India, said Mr. Trivedi should not have been arrested in the first place. “Politicians must learn how to behave and must accept criticism,†Mr. Katju said.
The cartoonist's father, Ashok Trivedi, told NDTV, an independent news channel, “Why he should apply for bail? He has not committed any crime. He should be released unconditionally.â€
The Mumbai police must file the charges against the cartoonist before his trial date can be set. Mr. Trivedi faces a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life if found guilty of sedition.
