Maharashtra govt has nothing to do with cartoonist's arrest: R R Patil

The Maharashtra government today sought to distance itself from the row surrounding jailed cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, but said it was trying to seek the release of the artist who has been charged with sedition.

Home Minister R R Patil told reporters here that his department has nothing to do with the complaint filed against Trivedi.

The Kanpur-based cartoonist was arrested by Mumbai Police on Saturday on the basis of a complaint, which alleged he posted seditious content on his website, filed in December by a member of Republican Party of India. A court had yesterday remanded him to police custody till September 16.

Patil said the government was considering Trivedi's case sympathetically and trying to seek his release.

Trivedi has been accused of putting up banners mocking the Constitution during an Anna Hazare rally in Mumbai last year and posting the same on his website.

The Minister was here to attend passing out parade of a new batch of Police Sub-Inspectors at Maharashtra Police Academy.

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