Actor Chetan Kumar gets interim protection

BENGALURU: The high court granted interim protection to actor-activist Chetan Kumar, directing the authorities not to precipitate in any manner till the next date of hearing (June 2) the matter relating to his Overseas Citizen of India card.
Kumar, a US citizen and Fulbright scholar, was briefly arrested last month over a tweet that "Hinduism is built on lies". On March 28, his OCI card was revoked for alleged "anti-India activities".In his April 21 order, Justice M Nagaprasanna set the conditions. One was that Kumar should file an affidavit within four days undertaking to "exercise restraint in tweets on matters that are sub-judice and delete those targeting the judiciary".
"All the aforesaid would, however, be subject to final orders. Any violation of the undertaking would entail automatic vacation of the interim protection," Justice Nagaprasanna said.
The judge noted that section 7D of the Citizenship Act deals with cancellation of OCI cardholders in certain circumstances. "The allegation against the petitioner is that he has been involved in criminal activities such as making insulting and objectionable remarks, promoting ill-will or disharmony against a particular community, violated Covid guidelines and made derogatory remarks on Twitter about the judiciary," the high court said.
Justice Nagaprasanna pointed out that Kumar had "replied to all allegations". "The acts of the petitioner must be established that it is inimical to national interest, which the respondents (Centre) need to justify by filing objections," he noted while adjourning the case to June 2.
Kumar's counsel Aditya Sondhi had contended that he was issued a show-cause on the OCI card cancellation, but not heard. "For section 7D(b) and (e) to get attracted, the offence must be against national interest or his acts should be inimical thereof," Sondhi said.
If the cancellation order wasn't stayed, Kumar would become an illegal immigrant and could be deported, Sondhi argued.
Deputy solicitor-general of India Shanthi Bhushan and additional advocate-general Arun Shyamre, representing the state government, vehemently opposed granting any relief for Kumar.