New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday termed as “prima facie arbitrary” the arrest of BJP’s youth wing leader Priyanka Sharma for allegedly posting morphed image of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.
The apex court’s observation came after counsel for Sharma’s brother mentioned the matter before it and said that despite the court’s order on Tuesday the activist has not been released from jail.
However, the counsel appearing for the West Bengal government told a vacation bench comprising justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna that Sharma has been released from jail at around 9:40 am on Wednesday.
“This is not done. First of all the arrest was prima facie arbitrary,” the bench said and warned it would issue contempt against officials concerned if Sharma is not released immediately from jail.
The bench then asked the counsel representing Sharma’s brother Rajib Sharma to take instruction on whether she has been released from jail or not.
After a few minutes the counsel apprised the court that she has been released from jail.
The apex court had yesterday granted bail to Sharma and had asked her to tender a “written apology” at the time of her release from jail for sharing the meme on Banerjee.
Also read: Why BJP worker Priyanka Sharma’s arrest over Mamata meme is unlikely to hold up in court
With social media virtually an ocean, and equally with a small part being truly toxic, the somewhat rigid parameters that curb free speech in conventional media need to be diluted. Public agencies would simply not have the time and resources to chase down each instance of inappropriate content. The primary focus should be on national security, radicalisation of young people for instance. In a few particularly egregious instances where women – especially – are trolled, sent vulgar or abusive messages, harsh action should be taken, mainly to act as a deterrent to others. This relatively harmless case was an opportunity for the apex court to start a process of codifying the law on the issue.
Too scared to comment. ‘Didi’s’ police may breach territory and put any one behind bar.