Aisha Sultana’s sedition case is granted anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court.
In connection with a sedition case, the Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to filmmaker Aisha Sultana, who is from Lakshadweep’s Chetlat island and works in the Malayalam film business. On June 17, the HC had granted her temporary bail for a week. The High Court had already stated that Aisha will be required to appear before the police for questioning under Section 41A CrPC (criminal procedural code) notice. In the event that she is arrested by the police, the court has ordered that she be granted interim bail. P Vijayabhanu, the actor’s lawyer, had used the recent Supreme Court decision in the “Vinod Dua” case as part of his arguments. The court’s decision reaffirmed that simply strong words cannot be construed as seditious conduct. He further stated that interrogation in a detention centre is unnecessary in this circumstance.
For criticizing Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel and stating during a television channel debate that the Union administration utilized a “bio-weapon” in the Union Territory, Aisha was charged with sedition under Sections 124A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code (prejudiced claims). He further emphasized in his arguments that there was no necessity for incarceration in this case. Later, Aisha said that she used the term “bioweapon” because the administrator had reduced the island’s lockdown rules, resulting in an increase in COVID19 instances.
In this case, Aisha has already been questioned by the Lakshadweep police. The Lakshadweep government approached the Kerala High Court again on June 24 after she appeared before the Kavaratti police, stating that Aisha had violated the temporary protection granted to her. The Administration claimed that after appearing before the police, Aisha mingled with the media and others, despite the fact that she was meant to be in mandatory home isolation. Aisha also visited patients at a covid care centre and a panchayat office, according to the petition. The administration claimed that Aisha’s criticism of Praful Khoda Patel was spreading the illness throughout the island.
