BJP worker gets bail in Mamata meme case
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to a Bharatiya Janata Party worker arrested for allegedly posting a morphed image of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on social media and asked her to apologise, observing that freedom of speech ends when it infringes upon others’ rights.
A vacation bench comprising justices Indira Banerjee and Sanj i v Khanna said Priyanka Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, will apologise in writing upon her release from jail for allegedly posting the morphed picture of the Trinamool Congress president.
During the hearing, the bench observed that though freedom of speech is non-negotiable “your freedom of speech ends when it infringes upon others’ rights”.
The bench observed that since Sharma is a member of a political party, the insinuation of posting such a picture will be different from those shared by common people.
Reacting to the order, BJP leader Poonam Mahajan said Tuesday the party’s youth wing will challenge the Supreme Court order asking its activist Priyanka Sharma to apologise for posting a meme o f West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on social media, asserting the verdict has sent out a “wrong message”.
Sharma was arrested on May 10 by the West Bengal Police under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code and under other provisions of the Information Technology Act on the complaint of a local Trinamool Congress leader Vibhas Hazra.
In the previous hearing, senior advocate N K Kaul, appearing for Sharma, said the BJP activist had been forced to move the apex court as there was a complete strike in local courts till May 14 in Howrah and moreover, she had been remanded in 14 day judicial custody by a Howrah local court on May 11.
Sharma had allegedly shared on Facebook the photo in which Banerjee’s face has been photoshopped on to actor Priyanka Chopra’s picture from the MET Gala event in New York.
Her arrest was followed by protests from the BJP and other social media users.
Earlier, Sharma’s family had alleged that she was arrested at the ruling TMC’S behest as she worked for BJP.
Sharma’s arrest led to strong condemnation by BJP leaders, who alleged that TMC was indulging in politics of “hate and violence” and that an “Emergency-like situation’ prevailed in the state.