Sedition case: Kerala HC grants bail to filmmaker

Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to filmmaker Aisha Sultana, who’s dealing with prices of sedition over her comment that the Central authorities had used a “bio weapon” in opposition to Lakshadweep.
Sultana, who has turn out to be a face of Lakshadweep’s protests in opposition to a slew of draft proposals mooted by Administrator Praful Ok Patel for the “development” of the islands, had alleged that Centre had used Covid-19 as a “bio weapon” in opposition to the individuals of the archipelago.
Granting bail to Sultana, a bench of Justice Ashok Menon stated prima facie, the offences alleged by the prosecution will not be attracted. “The ingredient for establishing the offence of sedition under Section 124-A IPC is the doing of certain acts which would bring the Government established by law in India into hatred or contempt etc. In this case, there is not even a suggestion that the applicant did anything as such against the Government of India.”

Referring to the penal provision of IPC Section 153-A (selling enmity and doing acts prejudicial to upkeep of concord), slapped in opposition to the filmmaker, Justice Menon stated that “it is doubtful whether the penal provisions of S.153-A would be attracted in this case”.
The courtroom stated the petitioner has opposed the newly launched reforms by the Administrator and has sworn allegiance to the individuals of Lakshadweep of their protest to the reforms. “There is 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.”
With regards to the sedition cost, the courtroom stated, “Prima facie, the applicant did not have a malicious motive to subvert the government established by law by merely using the strong word ‘bio weapon’ to express her vehemence in disapproval of the subject under discussion. Her intention is explicitly in criticism of the modification of the SOP, introduced by the Lakshadweep administrator.”

Sultana had made the feedback throughout a debate on Malayalam channel MediaOne TV on the latest reforms and alter of Covid-19 SOPs. She stated, “I can clearly say that the Centre has used bio-weapon in the island…”
She later clarified that what she meant to say was that the Centre was utilizing administrator Patel as a “bio weapon” on the islands.