Aseem Trivedi, originally from Kanpur, had surrendered himself to the BKC police on Saturday and he was later remanded to the custody of police for seven days according to a Bandra Holiday court. He was arrested on charges of sedition which he had brought upon by insulting the national symbols. He in his campaign along with Anna Hazare as a member of the India Against Corruption had made symbols that had clearly insulted the national symbols. He had also refused to engage any lawyer for to speak for him.

The most disturbing cartoon according to the people was the one that depicted the national emblem with wolves instead of lions and the footnote 'Satyameva Jayathe” was turned to “Bhrastameva Jayathe”.

A Mumbai-based lawyer had filed the complaint against Trivedi at the Bandra Kurla Complex police station last December with the charges under section 124, Sedition, Information technology Act Section 66- A for offensive messages through communication services and also the Prevention of Insults to Nation Honor PINH act Section 2 which demanded imprisonment for disrespect to the national flag or the constitution or any part thereof.

He had surrendered to the police station on Saturday night at the BKC police station with a view to inquire about the case. He was retained at the Police Station for the night. No visitors were permitted to visit him according to a friend. They also complained that he was treated worse than a criminal.

The following day afternoon he was produced at a holiday court though this was a serious issue. The prosecutor informed the court that Trivedi had insulted the national emblem in a cartoon and displayed it during a Hazare rally at the MMRDA ground and on his website. The subsequent hearing would be on September 16.

(AW- Anil)