The Supreme Court slammed Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya for an 'inflammatory' cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological mentor, with a link to Lord Shiva in the comments.

A bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia expressed disappointment over the 50-year-old cartoonist's "immaturity" and called his creation an "abuse of freedom of speech and expression".

In a sharp observation on Monday, the court asked for the cartoon to be deleted.

The court then posted the matter, which is Malviya's anticipatory bail plea, for further hearing on Tuesday.

The court told Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Malviya, that nothing would happen in 24 hours.

Earlier, Grover told the court that Malviya posted only the cartoon and that the comments, on a social media platform on which the image had been shared, had been added by another individual.

"It was from 2021 (during the Covid pandemic)... about some comments that some vaccines are 'safe as water'. There was a lot of confusion and misinformation then about vaccines."

She also pointed out that no law-and-order problems had emerged because of the cartoon. "The cartoon made headlines someone else because things live on social media forever," she said.

She said the cartoonist is ready to apologise.

Meanwhile, Justice Dhulia asked Additional Solicitor-General KM Nataraj, appearing for the State, if an apology would be enough. "They are saying it is offensive but not an offence..."

To this, the ASG responded that if the cartoon had been admitted to be 'offensive', then it had to be an offence.

"This is causing social disharmony and a breakdown of law-and-order... all over the country such things are happening and they are 'triggering'," he said.

Malviya approached the Supreme Court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court refused anticipatory bail following a police case.