MSU student gets bail in ‘objectionable’ artworks case

Vadodara: The sessions court on Wednesday granted bail to Kunkan Kumar Mahato, the M S University student who had made artworks with newspaper clippings of articles regarding rapes on women. The clippings were made in the shape of various Hindu goddesses.
The court granted the bail on the condition that Mahato had to furnish a surety of Rs 10,000 and a personal bond of the like amount. The court said that the applicant cannot indulge himself in identical or any other offence. Mahato, a student of masters of visual arts in the department of sculpture at fine arts faculty, was booked by Sayajigunj police last month after protests by right wing outfits for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
He had applied for anticipatory bail that was dismissed by the court following which Mahato was arrested. Mahato said in his bail application that there was no malicious intention on his part to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion. He also said that the artwork was not for public consumption but it was for MSU’s fine arts faculty’s jury.
After the jury’s advice, Mahato had removed the artwork and even tendered an apology. MSU’s syndicate members had later rusticated Mahato from the university.