HC refuses to stay sedition case against Ayesha Sulthana

The Kerala high court on Friday refused to stay further proceedings in the sedition case registered against Lakshadweep filmmaker Ayesha Sulthana.

Considering a plea filed by Sulthana seeking to quash the first information report (FIR) registered against her by the Kavaratti police, the high court said investigation in the case was in a preliminary stage and more time may be required for completing the probe.

Refusing to stay further proceedings in the case, the court directed the Lakshadweep administration to provide details of the investigation.

When the matter was taken up, the counsel for the administration opposed the plea, submitting that the investigation in the case was in a preliminary stage.

A case was registered on June 9 under Section 124-A (sedition) and 153 B (hate speech) of Indian Penal Code on the basis of a petition lodged by a political leader hailing from Kavaratti.

Last week, the high court had granted anticipatory bail to Sulthana in the sedition case.

Granting bail, Justice Ashok Menon had said there was no apparent indication in her statement, which amounts to imputations or assertions prejudicial to the national interest, nor does it propagate any class of persons against another group of persons.

Sulthana was interrogated by the Kavaratti police thrice last week in connection with the case.