Vikatan removes PM Modi cartoon after Madras HC directive

The Madras High Court reportedly asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift the ban imposed on the Vikatan website after the site was blocked over the cartoon

by e4m Desk
Published: Mar 6, 2025 5:21 PM | 2 min read

Vikatan Magazine has removed a contentious caricature that led to the ban of its website. The magazine released a statement: “The caricature in the cover page of Vikatan Plus dated February 16, 2025 (Released on Feb 10, 2025) has been removed in compliance with the order of the Hon’ble Madras High Court dated 06-03-2025 in WP 7944 of 2025, subject to further adjudication.”

The magazine added: “The issue involved for further consideration of the Hon'ble High Court, as recorded in order dated 06-03-2025, is whether the subject matter caricature is protected under right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, or would it fall under the permissible grounds of blocking under section 69A of the IT Act.”

The Madras High Court reportedly asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to lift the ban imposed on the Vikatan website after the site was blocked over the cartoon.

The caricature depicted PM Narendra Modi in chains in front of US President Donald Trump. The online-only magazine was seemingly critiquing PM Modi’s failure to address the issue of the deportation of Indian immigrants from the US.

According to a report by LiveLaw, Vijay Narayan, the Vikatan counsel, argued that the cartoon didn’t affect the “sovereignty and integrity of the country or the country’s friendly relations with the United States.” Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy also asked the magazine to remove the page with the cartoon temporarily.