November 6, 2017:

Section 501 IPC and Information Technology Act, 2000 have been invoked against the Journalist.

A freelance cartoonist was arrested on Sunday for a cartoon depicting the Tamil Nadu CM K Palaniswami allegedly in a distasteful manner over a recent family suicide related to the usury.

Cartoonist G Bala alias Balakrishnan was arrested in Chennai by the Special Tirunelveli District Crime Branch Police team led by an Inspector.

Bala, 36, was arrested on basis of a complaint filed by Tiruneveli District Collector Sandeep Nanduri, who was also caricatured in cartoon along with City Police Chief.

Police further added that CM was depicted allegedly in a distasteful manner in cartoon which was uploaded on the website on October 26,2017.

Chennai Press Club had announced a demonstration in state capital on Monday.

Based on the complaint, a case had been registered on November 1 under the   Indian Penal Code Section 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory) and under Information Technology Act,2000 it said, adding following the investigation Bala was arrested.

India is ranked 136 in World Press Freedom Index, three points down from last year. Norway is at Top while North Korea at bottom of 180-strong list of nations.

Released annually by the Reporters Without Borders, Index ranks 180 countries according to level of the freedom available to the journalists. Till date, eight journalists have lost their lives while reporting the conflicts, and 193 journalists are lodged in the jails worldwide.

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