City
Epaper

Mamata meme: Show-cause notice to Bengal government over delay in BJP activist's release

By IANS | Updated: July 1, 2019 14:20 IST

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a show cause notice to the West Bengal government in connection with a contempt plea filed over the delay in release from jail, BJP youth leader Priyanka Sharma, who was arrested for allegedly posting on the social media a meme on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Open in App

The state government has been asked to reply within four weeks.

Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was arrested on May 10 on a complaint by a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and charged with defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code and under provisions of the Information Technology Act.

The top court has termed her arrest as "prima facie arbitrary" and granted her bail ordering "immediate release".

However, a petition filed by her brother Rajiv Sharma in the Supreme Court alleged that there was a deliberate delay in releasing Sharma and that she was kept in jail for an extra day.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took exception to the delay by the West Bengal government in keeping Sharma behind the bars despite the bail order.

The state government said her release took time due to delay in receiving a certified copy of the top court order, which is mandatory as per the state's jail manual rules.

"This is not done. First of all, her arrest was arbitrary... And jail manuals can't have superintendence over the Supreme Court," said the apex court.

Sharma was accused of sharing on the social media a photo of Banerjee photoshopped on a picture of Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra from a MET Gala event held in New York City.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Rajiv SharmaThe Supreme CourtSupreme CourtRanjan Gogoibanerjee
Open in App

Related Stories

MaharashtraSupreme Court Clears Way for Local Body Elections in Maharashtra, Retains Pre-2022 OBC Quota

Maharashtra"Local Body Elections Long Overdue, We Are Fully Prepared", Sanjay Raut on SC Order

MaharashtraMaharashtra Local Body Polls 2025: Supreme Court Asks State Commission to Conduct Elections Within 4 Months

EntertainmentSamay Raina and Four Others Summoned by Supreme Court Over Mocking Disabled Individuals

NationalSC Rejects Red Fort Claim by Woman Posing as Mughal Heir: ‘Why Not Fatehpur Sikri Too?’

National Realted Stories

NationalMP govt to organise regional agri-conclave in Narsinghpur, Satna

NationalFour bail jumpers nabbed in Gurugram

NationalTwo arrested in Bengal's Hooghly for making 'anti-India' comments

NationalBengal: JMB activist arrested in Kolkata

NationalSix B'deshi infiltrators arrested while trying to escape through Indo-Bangla border