Kerala HC refuses to stay further proceedings in sedition case against Aisha Sultana

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to stay further proceedings in the sedition case registered against Lakshadweep filmmaker Aisha Sultana. Considering a plea filed by Sultana seeking to quash the FIR registered against her by the Kavaratti Police, the High Court said the 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 9 June under Section 124-A (sedition) and 153 B (hate speech) of IPC on the basis of a petition lodged by a political leader hailing from Kavaratti. Last week, the High Court had granted anticipatory bail to Sultana 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. Sultana was interrogated by the Kavaratti police thrice last week in connection with the case.