Case against Indore cartoonist, Hemant Malviya, over obscene posts aimed at maligning RSS’s image

State: Madhya Pradesh

Year: 2025

Date: May 23, 2025

Source:

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indore-cartoonist-hemant-malviya-case-obscene-posts-aimed-maligning-rss-image-2729232-2025-05-23

Censorship – News Media/Documentaries, Lawfare – General, Others

The Madhya Pradesh Police has filed a case against Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya for posting objectionable material online on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Lord Shiva.

The complaint, lodged by RSS member and lawyer Vinay Joshi, accused Malviya of deliberately sharing “offensive,” “indecent” and “obscene” content that allegedly targets Hindu religious sentiments.

Malviya, who identifies as an artist, cartoonist and wedding decorator on social media, often uses satire to comment on political and social issues. His Facebook account is filled with cartoons, videos and photos that often target the establishment.

…Lasudiya police station in-charge Tareesh Soni confirmed that Malviya has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita – including 196 (acts detrimental to communal harmony), 299 (deliberate act intended to hurt religious sentiments), and 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) – along with section 67A of the IT Act, which pertains to the transmission of sexually explicit material online.

While an investigation is underway, Malviya has not yet been taken into custody.

Censorship, Lawfare

Updated On: July 16, 2025

Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail to Cartoonist Hemant Malviya; Criticises 'Very Offensive' Posts

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 15) criticised cartoonist Hemant Malviya over his cartoons on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) calling it “immature” and “undignified”. However, the top court also granted him interim protection from coercive action by the Madhya Pradesh Police.

“Why do you do all this?” a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar, hearing the petition, asked the counsel of cartoonist Hemant Malviya, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Malviya and seeking anticipatory bail for him, said that the issue was regarding a cartoon made in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source:

https://m.thewire.in/article/media/supreme-court-grants-interim-bail-to-cartoonist-hemant-malviya-criticises-very-offensive-posts/amp