SC grants bail to BJP activist Priyanka Sharma over morphed pic, waives apology condition
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed its verdict on BJP youth leader Priyanka Sharma's appeal and asked for the immediately release of the BJP activists. The top court has also asked her to apologise to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for sharing a morphed picture of TMC chief on social media.
However, the apex Court modified its order and waives of condition of apology for the BJP activist Priyanka Sharma. Earlier, the top court had observed, "We can grant bail but she has to apologise."
#UPDATE Supreme Court calls back Sharma's lawyer NK Kaul and modifies it's order and waives off condition of apology. #PriyankaSharma will be released immediately. https://t.co/q2mfzFQTaS
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2019
However, senior advocate NK Kaul representing BJP youth wing worker Priyanka Sharma argued on Supreme Court's direction to Sharma apologising Banerjee and said, "asking for an apology is amount to infringement of the right to freedom of speech. She is granted bail meanwhile I will take instruction on an apology from her."
Following which the top court called the back Sharma's lawyer NK Kaul and modified it's order and waived off condition of apology.
A West Bengal BJP youth leader Priyanka Sharma was arrested on 10 May for posting a meme mocking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her Facebook timeline on May 9.
In the meme, Sharma superimposed Priyanka Chopra’s Met Gala 2019 face with Mamata Banerjee, giving a rather comical twist to unusually serious TMC supremo. Later, Howrah district club cell convenor at Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha-BJYM was arrested and produced in Howrah Court.
BJP leader and minister in Assam government, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also condemned the BJP's youth wing worker Priyanka Sharma’s arrest. A complaint was filed by the Trinamool Congress leader Vibhas Hazra against Sharma for allegedly sharing the picture.
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First published: 14 May 2019, 12:21 IST