The Supreme Court on Wednesday censured the West Bengal government over delay in the release of BJP Youth Wing Convenor Priyanka Sharma, who was arrested for sharing a meme of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, despite the court ordering her release on Tuesday.
“The arrest was prime facie arbitrary,” the top court said, adding it would have issued contempt notice if she was not released.
When Sharma’s lawyer told the court that she was released at 9.40 am today, the court said, “Why 9:40 am? The order was passed in your presence?”
West Bengal Government’s Counsel says in Supreme Court that ‘Priyanka Sharma was released at 9:40 am, today.’ SC bench asks,’ why she was not released immediately?’ https://t.co/sVdHSv77WU
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2019
ALSO READ: SC grants bail to BJP activist Priyanka Sharma, waives apology condition
“Despite the Supreme Court ordering immediate release, she was kept in jail for around 24 hours and it’s humiliation. She was forced to sign an apology before release… We were told that the closure report in this case has been filed… If closure report was filed, where is the need for apology?” said Neeraj Kishan Kaul, senior advocate appearing for Sharma.
#PriyankaSharma ‘s lawyer: I’m told, subject to verification, that she was released at 9:40-10:00 am & that too after made to sign a statement prepared by police. It reflects extremely disturbing trend that SC’s order that said ‘forthwith release her’ wasn’t followed for 24 hrs pic.twitter.com/EonSV2RZy1
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 15, 2019
The Supreme Court said it will take up the apology issue in July.
Supreme Court says it will hear in July first week, @BJP4India Youth Wing Convenor #PriyankaSharma ‘s application seeking action against the West Bengal police authorities. Sharma was arrested for sharing a meme of West Bengal Chief Minister @MamataOfficial . (File pic) pic.twitter.com/4JYVRHhv6V
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 15, 2019
The top court on Tuesday granted bail to BJP worker Sharma after waiving its earlier condition that she tenders a written apology to the Bengal CM.
Priyanka, a member of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in Bengal’s Howrah, posted an image of Banerjee’s face photo-shopped on Priyanka Chopra’s Met Gala look on her Facebook account. She was arrested on Friday (May 10) and sent to jail for 14 days.