NEW DELHI: Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi has been sent to judicial custody till September 24. Trivedi had refused to take bail. Mumbai Police also did not seek his custody. He was produced in the court this afternoon. He will now be sent to Arthur road jail. Earlier today, Aseem said that he had no regrets for what he had said and would continue doing what he had done. He also said that government should drop all the charges against him.Meanwhile, Maharashtra Government today sought to distance itself from the row surrounding Trivedi, but said it was trying to seek the release of the artist who has been charged with sedition.
Home Minister R R Patil told reporters in Nashik that his department has nothing to do with the complaint filed against Trivedi. The Kanpur-based cartoonist was arrested by Mumbai Police on Saturday on the basis of a complaint, which alleged he posted seditious content on his website, filed in December by a member of Republican Party of India. A court had yesterday remanded him to police custody till September 16.
Patil said the government was considering Trivedi's case sympathetically and trying to seek his release.
Supporters and family members of cartoonist Assem Trivedi, arrested for allegedly posting seditious content on his web portal, today protested outside the residence of Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, who assured them of providing all possible help to the artiste.
Ashok Trivedi, father of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, today along with several protestors from Kanpur and neighbouring Unnao gathered outside Jaiswal's residence to express their outrage and demanded his release.
After meeting the protestors, Jaiswal, who is a member of Parliament from Kanpur, promised that authorities will look into the charges made and will provide him with all possible assistance. He also said if needed he will try to approach the Maharashtra government to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, after facing ire on arresting cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, Mumbai police was today ready to give up his custody. He was remanded to police custody on Sunday on charges of sedition over a series of cartoons.
Trivedi was arrested on Saturday for displaying allegedly insulting caricatures of Parliament, Constitution and the national emblem at Anna Hazare's protest last December and for posting them on a social networking site.
The arrest of Aseem Trivedi, a freelance artist, triggered widespread condemnation from media and anti-graft activists who said it was evidence of a lack of respect for freedom of expression.
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