TN cartoonist G Bala held for 'obscene' caricature of CM over family suicide

Chennai: A team of Tirunelveli police on Sunday arrested freelance cartoonist G Bala for his “obscene” caricature of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy and district administration over suicide of a family last month.

The 36-year-old cartoonist had, on October 24, posted a cartoon on Facebook, criticising Tirunelveli Collector Sandeep Nanduri, the City Commissioner of Police and the chief minister in a distasteful manner.

The police arrested him on the basis of a complaint filed by Nanduri.

According to The Indian Express, Tirunelveli police have arrested Bala under the Section 67 in the Information Technology Act (Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) and Section 501 of the Indian Penal Code (Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory).

On October 23, a man and his wife set themselves and their two kids afire at the Tirunelveli Collectorate complex allegedly due to harassment by a money-lender.

While the woman and her two children died on the same day, the man succumbed to injuries later. The incident drew widespread condemnation from political parties and civil society groups over usury.

Family head Muthu resorted to the extreme step as the money-lender was harassing him demanding more money despite him having returned Rs 2.34 lakh, including interest, for a loan of Rs 1.40 lakh, his brother had alleged.

Police had later arrested three persons, including the financier and his wife, in connection with the incident.

After the incident, Palaniswami said the state had in 2003 enacted a legislation against charging of exorbitant interest rates by money-lenders.

He had directed the district collectors and police officials to act swiftly on any complaint related to usury.

(With inputs from PTI)