BJP worker Priyanka Sharma released in Mamata meme case; SC hauls up W Bengal over delay

New Delhi: BJP worker Priyanka Sharma was freed by West Bengal government on Wednesday,  a day after the Supreme Court ordered her immediate release.

The court pulled up  the state government over the delay in the release of  the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader.A bench, headed by Justice Indira Banerjee, was hearing a plea by Sharma's senior lawyer Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who informed the court that the Bengal government did not release her client on Tuesday despite the Apex Court's order.

Ms Kaul said even after the court's order to release the BJP youth leader immediately, she was released in the morning. "Why the order was not complied with even after 22 hours," Kaul told the court."This is not right. Why she was kept illegally in the jail after our orders," Justice  Banerjee said.

The Top Court's order had yesterday stated that Sharma shall tender an apology at the time of her release.Supreme Court vacation bench had, in its order, said that the detenu, Priyanka Sharma, is directed to be immediately released on bail.

The bench, headed by Justice  Banerjee and also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, also had yesterday, in its order, said that the detenu shall, however, at the time of release, tender an apology in writing for putting up/sharing the pictures complained of on her Face Book Account.

The Top Court also made it clear that this order is being made in the special facts and certain circumstances of this case and shall not operate as a precedent.

The questions raised are kept open, the SC said and also added that Astha Sharma, counsel appearing for the State of West Bengal, will accept the notice.  The  court listed the writ petition for further hearing after the vacation.(UNI)