Didn't murder anyone, will continue caricaturing, says cartoonist Bala out on bail

ANI photo

Tirunelveli/Chennai: Freelance cartoonist G Bala, who was arrested on Sunday for his caricature on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Police Commissioner, was granted bail by the Tirunelveli District Court on Monday.

“I did not commit a murder, no regrets. I will continue to highlight inefficiency of the government through my cartoon. I will continue, won't stop,” said the 36-year-old cartoonist after being released from jail.

Bala’s arrest by a special Tirunelveli District Crime Branch Police team led to an uproar on the social media. Protesting the arrest, Chennai Press Club had announced a demonstration in Chennai on Monday.

The cartoonist was arrested on Sunday in Chennai on the basis of a complaint filed by Tiruneveli District Collector Sandeep Nanduri, who was also caricatured in the cartoon along with the city police chief.

Earlier, police sources had said the chief minister has allegedly been depicted in a distasteful manner in the cartoon, uploaded on a website on October 26.

The cartoon was uploaded days after a couple set themselves and their two children afire at the Tirunelveli Collectorate complex allegedly due to harassment by a money-lender. While the woman and her two children died on the day of the incident on October 23, the man succumbed to injuries later. 

The incident drew widespread condemnation from political parties and civil society groups over usury.