New Delhi, July 11 (H.S.): Cartoonist Hemant Malviya has sought anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court regarding caricatures of PM Modi and the RSS. A vacation bench led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia scheduled a hearing for July 14 after Advocate Vrinda Grover requested urgency. Malviya is contesting a Madhya Pradesh High Court decision from July 3, which rejected his bail petition, claiming it misuses freedom of expression.

Grover explained that the contested cartoon dates back to the COVID-19 period in 2021 and referenced the High Court's dismissal, which stated that prior Supreme Court rulings were inapplicable. An FIR was filed against Malviya by RSS worker Vinay Joshi, accusing him of offending Hindu sentiments and attempting to disturb communal harmony.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar