New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The Bengal government informed the Supreme Court that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Priyanka Sharma was released at 0940 hrs on Wednesday.
The Bengal Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader was arrested for sharing on her Facebook account a morphed photograph of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
A bench, headed by Justice Indira Banerjee,was told by Ms Sharma's counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul, that the Bengal government did not release his client on Tuesday despite the order of the apex court.
Mr Kaul said even after the Supreme Ccourt's order to free the BJP youth leader immediately, she was released in the morning. "The order was not complied with even after 22 hours," Mr Kaul told the bench.
"This is not right. Why was she kept illegally in the jail after our orders?" Justice Banerjee said.
The vacation bench, headed by Justice Banerjee and also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, had yesterday, in its order, said that Ms Sharma shall, however, at the time of release, tender an apology in writing for sharing the pictures complained of on her Facebook account.
The Supreme Court also made it clear that this order was made in the special facts and certain circumstances of this case and shall not operate as a precedent.
Questions raised are kept open, the bench said, adding that Astha Sharma, counsel appearing for the State of Bengal, will accept the notice.
The bench listed the writ petition for further hearing after the summer recess of the apex court.
UNI XC RP1849