My cartoons will now spew more venom: Aseem Trivedi

Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, who was arrested on sedition charges, today said he would continue to draw cartoons that raise issues like corruption, as people in large numbers thronged the railway station here to receive him.

Trivedi, who belongs to Shuklaganj in adjoining Unnao district, was received by his parents and hordes of supporters who took him in a procession to his hometown.

The cartoonist, arrested on September 8 and released on September 12, told reporters at the railway station that he would continue to oppose corruption through his cartoons, which he said would now spew more venom.

He said it was his mission to root out corruption from the country.

"Anna Hazare has said it is fortunate to go to jail for the sake of your country. I had gone to jail to remove corruption from the country and hence there was no reason to repent or be afraid of," he said.

The 25-year-old cartoonist was arrested under IPC Section 124 (sedition), Section 66 A of Information Technology Act and Section 2 of Prevention of Insults to Nation Honour Act. He was released after Bombay High Court granted him bail.

The freelancer has been accused of putting up banners mocking the Constitution during a rally of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare late last year and posting the same on his website.

Trivedi was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by a member of Republican Party of India.