Aisha Sultana moves HC for anticipatory bail

Aisha Sultana, filmmaker, approached the Kerala High Court on Monday in search of anticipatory bail in a sedition case registered in opposition to her by the Kavaratti police for her remarks in opposition to the Lakshadweep Administrator.

Ms. Sultana made the remarks throughout a dialogue on a Malayalam TV information channel on June 7 on the controversial proposals of the Lakshadsweep Administrator which have triggered public protests on the islands. She had allegedly acknowledged that the Administrator had used ‘bio-weapon’ in opposition to islanders. She has been booked below part 124A (Sedition) and 153B (act prejudicial to upkeep of concord between completely different non secular, racial, language or regional teams or casts or communities). She has been requested to look earlier than the Kavaratti police on June 20.

‘Falsely implicated’

In her petition filed by way of High Court lawyer P. Vijaya Bhanu, she mentioned she had been falsely implicated within the case ‘with ulterior motives and vexatious intentions.’ She identified that the actions of the Administrator had drawn flak from the islanders and folks throughout the globe. It was on this context that she made the remarks.

She had solely supposed to say that the apathetic strategy and reforms of the brand new Administrator have been posing a critical risk to the islanders. She had no intention to excite disaffection in direction of the administration. She had defined her stance on social media and apologised for her statements.

‘Not a sedition case’

She additionally argued that the case didn’t qualify to be one among sedition because the prosecution had did not fulfill the need to represent an offence below part 124A of IPC. For an offence falling below the part, the phrases spoken or written ought to create hatred, contempt, or displeasure in opposition to a authorities, and such phrases ought to have resulted in imminent violence. Her assertion had not sparked violence or created disaffection in direction of the federal government.

Besides, part 153B wouldn’t stand because the phrases spoken weren’t prejudicial to nationwide integration or inflicting disharmony or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will. Criticism on political issues and candid dialogue didn’t represent an offence of sedition. Her statements may at finest be termed as “expression of disapprobation of the sections of the government and functionaries.” She didn’t intend to incite folks or disturb public peace.