Kolkata, Sept. 3 -- The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed the probe against actress Sreelekha Mitra over her alleged display of an objectionable cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest, while granting her interim protection from coercive action.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya called the depiction "distasteful" and said it "shocks the conscience of the Court", but held that it would not, by itself, attract Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for Mitra, argued that no offence was made out and said she had appeared before investigators and would cooperate.
The court declined to quash the proceedings, observing that doing so could encourage such conduct. It directed that no coercive steps be taken against Mitra without its permission until December 24, subject to her cooperation.
Mitra must receive at least 48 hours' notice before appearing before investigators. The investigating agency has been directed to submit a progress report at the next hearing.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.