Interim stay on probe against cartoonist Bala

In the petition, Bala, had stated that on October 23 a family of four from Kasidharmam village in Tirunelveli district committed suicide by self-immolation inside the Collectorate and on the next day, October 24, he had posted a caricature in his personal Facebook page in which three persons were shown without clothes and covering their private parts with rupee notes even as a child was burning in front of them. 

The three persons were named as Tirunelveli Collector, Tirunelveli Police Commissioner and Chief Minister. Based on the caricature, Tirunelveli Collector had filed a complaint against him in Tirunelveli district crime branch and based on the complaint a case had been filed against him under 501 of IPC and 67 of IT Act. Section 67 of IT Act is a non-cognisable offence and Inspector of Crime Branch had no power to arrest him without obtaining prior permission from the court. Also the Inspector has no jurisdiction to register the case under section 501 of IPC as the petitioner is from Chennai. Also Tirunelveli Collector had filed the complaints with malafide intentions to harass the petitioner and so the case should be quashed by the Court, prayed the petitioner. 

When the petition was taken up for hearing, Judge SS Sundar, granted relief to Bala by issuing interim stay for investigation by Tirunelveli district crime branch police in the case.