Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to stay further proceedings in the sedition case registered against Lakshadweep filmmaker Ayesha Sulthana. The court said that investigation in the case was in a preliminary stage and more time may be required for completing the probe considering a plea filed by the filmmaker seeking to quash the FIR registered against her by the Kavaratti police. It also directed the Lakshadweep administration to provide details of the investigation.
A case was registered on June 9 under Section 124-A (sedition) and 153 B (hate speech) of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of a petition filed by a political leader from Kavaratti.
Sulthana was also interrogated by the Kavaratti police thrice last week in connection with the case. Last week, the Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to Sultana in the sedition case registered against her by the Kavaratti Police.
The bench had observed that "prima facie, the offences alleged by the prosecution are not attracted. She has no criminal antecedents. She is not likely to flee from justice." The sedition case was registered against her for her controversial 'bio-weapon' remark during a discussion on Lakshadweep policies implemented by Praful Koda Patel in a Malayalam news channel.
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(With inputs from agencies)
