Aisha Sultana virtually abused Court’s interim protection, broke COVID-19 protocol: Lakshadweep Administration to Kerala High Court

The Lakshadweep administration has filed an application before the Kerala High Court alleging that filmmaker Aisha Sultana abused the Court's earlier interim protection and broke COVID-19 protocol on the islands by interacting with media personnel and visiting others after her police interrogation on June 20..The Kerala High Court had, last week, issued interim anticipatory bail to the filmmaker while directing her to cooperate with the concerned Investigating Officer (IO) and comply with the notice issued under Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code..[BREAKING] Kerala High Court grants interim protection from arrest for one week to Lakshadweep filmmaker Aisha Sultana in sedition case.The Lakshwadeep administration's application said that Sultana arrived at Kavaratti Island on the June 19. A nodal officer is stated to have met her to inform her about the orders issued by the Disaster Management Authority on COVID-19 protocol. .Sultana is also stated to have agreed to adhere to the mandatory home quarantine requirements, except for appearing before the IO for interrogation..While so, the administration has registered protest over Sultana allegedly going to the Police Head quarters for interrogation on June 20, along with others in one vehicle. .The administration also highlighted that after the interrogation, she mingled with the public and the press. Later, she is stated to have visited the Panchayat office and met several persons there as well. .Moreover, the next day, she is stated to have visited COVID-19 positive persons at an isolation facility..In light of this, on June 22, 2021, the Chairman of the Disaster Management Authority issued a notice of caution to Sultana, a copy of which has been placed before the Court..The administration contended Sultana's actions are in total violation of the COVID protocol enforced in the Union Territory. Her conduct put the lives of the interrogating police officers as well as any other person she interacted with, at risk, it was submitted further..The primary claim of the administration was that by these actions, Sultana effectively displayed that her protest against the relaxation of COVID-19 SOP on the islands, "projected as a justification for the seditious assertions made against the Central Government" was all pretence. ."The violations of quarantine norms after giving assurance to the nodal officer shows that she has respect for law and legal obligations. She has virtually abused the protection granted by way of interim order by this Hon'ble Court," the application stated. .The administration believes these developments are relevant for deciding the bail application and, therefore, requested the Court to accept the documents submitted..After an FIR was registered against Sultana for sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, she had approached the Kerala High Court for anticipatory bail earlier this month. The FIR was registered in the wake of comments Sultana had made regarding Lakshwadeep Administrator, Praful Patel, and the Central Government on a TV panel discussion..Lakshadweep Filmmaker Aisha Sultana moves Kerala High Court for Anticipatory Bail in Sedition case.A week ago, Justice Ashok Menon, granted interim protection from arrest to Sultana for a week, directing that if she is arrested after interrogation, she should be released on interim anticipatory bail..The Court had also directed Sultana to co-operate with the investigation and appear before the Lakshadweep Police for interrogation as required under Section 41A of Code of Criminal Procedure..[Read Application]