Arrest of BJP Activist in Bengal CM Morphed Image Case Is Arbitrary, Says Supreme Court

The recent arrest of a BJP youth wing leader Priyanka Sharma for allegedly posting a morphed image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media has been termed as “prime facie arbitrary” by the Supreme Court.

The apex court's observation came after the counsel for Sharma's brother mentioned before it that despite the court's order, the activist was not been released from jail.

Despite the counsel appearing for the West Bengal government telling a vacation bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Sanjiv Khanna that BJP youth wing leader Priyanka Sharma was released from jail, the activist was not released.

When this was mentioned to the bench, it warned that it would issue a contempt notice against the officials concerned if Priyanka Sharma is not released from a West Bengal jail immediately.

Later, the counsel representing Priyanka Sharma's brother Rajib Sharma told the bench that she had been released from jail.

Earlier, the apex court had granted bail to Priyanka Sharma and had asked her to tender a “written apology” at the time of her release from jail for sharing a meme about West Bengal chief minister.

Despite the bench directing bail to be granted to be granted to Priyanka Sharma immediately, she was made to sign a letter of apology which was put together by the West Bengal police before to her release, senior advocate N K Kaul told the apex court.

Initially, the bench had insisted that Priyanka Sharma must furnish an apology since she is a BJP leader and not a common citizen, especially in the light of ongoing elections, but later it modified its order and dropped the condition to apologize.

An application to revoke the apology, besides a contempt plea, has now been moved on behalf of Priyanka Sharma, which will be heard in July.