The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the West Bengal government for delaying the release of the BJP’s youth wing leader Priyanka Sharma, who was arrested for sharing a meme of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.
The top court also said the arrest of Priyanka Sharma was “prima facie arbitrary”.
The observation came after the counsel for Sharma’s brother said she has not been released from jail despite the court’s order for her immediate release on Tuesday.
However, the lawyer representing the West Bengal government told a vacation bench comprising justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna that Priyanka Sharma was released from jail at around 9:40 am on Wednesday.
“Why 9:40 am, this is not done. First of all the arrest was prima facie arbitrary,” the bench said adding it would have issued contempt notice if she was not released. immediately from jail.
“Sharma is being released but before her release, she was asked to sign an apology letter,” Kaul said.
Kaul wondered where the need for apology was when the closure report, in this case, has been filed.
The top court also said it will hear Sharma’s application seeking action against the West Bengal police authorities in July.
Sharma was arrested after she allegedly shared on social media a photo in which TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s face has been photoshopped on to actor Priyanka Chopra’s picture from the MET Gala event in New York.
