Chennai: A fresh First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against Tamil Nadu-based cartoonist Bala and two other journalists who extended support to him by placing large banners of his controversial cartoon for which he was arrested earlier this month.
On November 5, a defamatory case was filed against cartoonist G Balakrishnan (36) on account of his caricature that allegedly showed state chief minister ‘’Edappadi K Palanisamy, the Salem city police commissioner and district collector not wearing anything and covering their private parts with money, while a person lay burning in front of them.
This was published days after the shocking incident that happened in the district collectorate where a couple and two children set themselves on fire alleging police inaction on usury.
Journalists across the country condemned the arrest of Bala and saw it is as an attack on the freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Indian constitution.
Journalists from Chennai had placed banners of the controversial cartoon in front of the Chennai Press Club on the sidelines of a demonstration organised as a symbol of solidarity.
The city police found this banner “disturbing the public and prevented free movement of transport’ and filed a case against two office bearers of the Chennai Press Club - joint secretary Bharathi Tamilan and executive committee member Asadullah.
