The Association of India Magazines (AIM) has condemned the blocking of Vikatan.com by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) on February 15, 2025. The action followed a complaint by Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai over a political cartoon in Vikatan Plus.
AIM criticized the lack of due process, stating that no notice or hearing was provided before the website, which has 90 lakh monthly users, was taken down. Vikatan was later informed of a meeting by the Inter-Departmental Committee under the IT Rules 2021 to review the complaint.
AIM highlighted that key provisions of the IT Rules 2021 are currently under judicial scrutiny, making the move unlawful. Calling it a “draconian attack on press freedom,” AIM has urged MEITY to revoke the order and asked the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) to halt inquiries under the contested IT Rules.