News / Asia

Indian Cartoonist Free on Bail

Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi speaks after he was released from jail on bail in Mumbai, India, September 12, 2012.Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi speaks after he was released from jail on bail in Mumbai, India, September 12, 2012.
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Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi speaks after he was released from jail on bail in Mumbai, India, September 12, 2012.
Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi speaks after he was released from jail on bail in Mumbai, India, September 12, 2012.
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VOA News
A political cartoonist has been released after being jailed on sedition charges for drawings that mocked corruption in India's government.

Aseem Trivedi left a prison in Mumbai Wednesday after a local high court granted him bail.

Trivedi was arrested last week after a private complaint about his cartoons, one of which depicted India's parliament building as a toilet bowl.  His arrest rekindled debate on freedom of speech in India, where activists have accused the government of being intolerant of criticism.

Upon leaving jail, Trivedi raised his fist and declared the battle against censorship in India will continue.  He accused authorities of blocking freedom of speech across the country.

India's ruling coalition has been facing charges of corruption, including alleged irregularities in the award of coal fields to private companies.

The government has refuted the corruption allegations.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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