Action against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi will be as per law: Maharashtra home minister R R Patil

MUMBAI: Maharashtra home minister R R Patil today said the decision on withdrawing charges against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi would be taken after the investigation was over.

Patil told reporters here that he had asked Mumbai police commissioner to find out what action could be taken against the cartoonist, who was arrested for allegedly objectionable cartoons of the national emblem and the Parliament.

"Action will be taken in accordance with the existing laws. There will be no discrimination," he said.

The Home Minister also added that it was the investigating agency which had pressed sedition charges against Trivedi, and not the state government. Nor was the government under any pressure, and police too were not putting pressure on Trivedi to seek bail, Patil said.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Manikrao Thakre said a strict punishment should be awarded to Trivedi. Saying that he did not want to comment on application of sedition section, Thakre said all existing laws should be examined to book Trivedi.