Kerala HC stays sedition case against actor-model Aisha Sultana

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed the sedition case against actor-model Aisha Sultana.

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed the proceedings in the sedition case against actor and model, Aisha Sultana. This comes after the Supreme Court’s interim order staying all trials in sedition cases after the Centre said it is examining the validity of the sedition law.

With the high court’s order, no further investigation will be undertaken in the FIR registered by the Kavaratti police.

The case was registered by the Kavaratti police on the basis of a complaint filed by the president of BJP’s Lakshadweep unit, Abdul Khader Haji. According to his complaint, Sultana had alleged that the central government had unleashed a "bio weapon" by relaxing Covid protocols in Lakshadweep, during a debate on a Malayalam TV channel.

Abdul Khader Haji had alleged that the statement was made to incite hatred among the people.

Sultana withdrew her statement later and expressed her regrets.

Her lawyer argued in court that the relaxation of Covid restrictions on the island had led to a large-scale outbreak of the virus. He added that the "bio-weapon" comment was made to indicate that it was intentional.