National

Madras HC Orders I&B Ministry to Restore Access to Vikatan Website Over Modi Cartoon Issue

Published

11 months ago

March 7, 2025

The Madras High Court has ordered the Union government to reinstate the website of the widely-read Tamil magazine ‘Ananda Vikatan’, which had been blocked after it published a satirical cartoon portraying Prime Minister Narendra Modi in chains alongside US President Donald Trump. The court’s decision on Thursday came with the condition that the magazine must temporarily remove the offending cartoon.

Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, while passing interim orders on a petition from the Ananda Vikatan group, challenged the February 25 directive that had halted access to the site and sought intervention from the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry. The court instructed the government to lift the ban on www.vikatan.com and mandated the magazine to temporarily remove the cartoon from its cover page.

The judge noted that access to the entire website should not be restricted while the court deliberates on whether the cartoon constitutes a violation of freedom of expression or if it undermines diplomatic relations with other nations. He emphasized that the I&B Ministry should reinstate the website as soon as the magazine complied with the removal of the cartoon, without waiting for a further court order.

Ananda Vikatan, which boasts a legacy spanning over a century, published the controversial cartoon on February 10 as a commentary on the deportation of illegal immigrants from the US while shackled, triggering significant public backlash. The cartoon appeared in the magazine’s web-only edition. In response to a complaint from Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, the I&B Ministry promptly blocked the website, arguing that the cartoon compromised national sovereignty and diplomatic relations, particularly with the United States.

In defense of the magazine, its representatives argued that blocking access was unwarranted as the cartoon did not breach any legal criteria for restricting public access to information. They claimed that no harm was done to national integrity or relations with the US, asserting that the blockade infringed on journalistic freedom and the right to free speech—a principle upheld by many global publications that feature satirical depictions of political figures. The representatives also noted that the government had not disclosed the identity of the complainant who initiated the action against the website.

On behalf of the I&B Ministry, Additional Solicitor General Ar. L Sundaresan contended that the ‘offensive’ cartoon undoubtedly had the potential to strain relations with the US and that the action taken was in accordance with relevant legal frameworks, including Article 19 of the Constitution and Section 69A of the IT Act. He stated that, following the recommendation of a committee formed by the I&B Ministry, public access to the magazine’s website could resume if the magazine voluntarily removed the contentious cartoon.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

1 week ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.