Arrested art student gets bail in obscene paintings case

The fine arts student, arrested last week on charges of making obscene art works was granted bail here on Monday.

Vadodara (Gujarat), May 14 : The fine arts student, arrested last week on charges of making "obscene" art works was granted bail here on Monday.

Chandramohan, a student at the M.S. University at Vadodara was arrested for an exhibition of his works meant for the faculty for internal assessment.

Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called the police, alleging the exhibits demeaned Hindu and Christian deities.

Meanwhile, chaotic scenes were witnessed outside the college premises on Monday, where fine arts student and social activist were not allowed to enter.

The students and faculty members were protesting the arrest of Chandramohan and the suspension of Shivaji Panicker, Head of Department faculty of fine arts.

Social activists slammed Chandramohan's arrest as an assault on freedom of expression.

"Inside the University the goons and police are mixed with them and the university authorities instead of supporting the university faculty have joined them and suspended a faculty member. This is something absolutely shocking," S. Hashmii, social activist from Mumbai, said.

However, right wing student organizations lashed out at the art community for backing Chandramohan.

"Instead of asking for apology, the fine arts students are calling people from all over the country and trying to prove that what they have done is not wrong. We are holding a protest against this," said Vikas Dubey, activist of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

ANI