Morphed image of WB CM: SC says arrest of activist prima facie arbitrary

The Supreme Court Wednesday termed as “prima facie arbitrary” the arrest of BJP’s youth wing leader for allegedly posting morphed image of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media and pulled up the West Bengal government for the delay in releasing her.A vacation bench comprising justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna was informed by the counsel of activist Priyanka Sharma’s brother that she was not released from jail on Tuesday despite the apex court’s order granting her bail and ordering her immediate release.However, the counsel for West Bengal government informed the bench that she has been released from jail at 9:40 am today.”Why 9:40 am today? The order was passed in your presence,” the bench told the state counsel.
When the state’s counsel referred to the jail manual, the bench shot back, “Jail manual can’t have precedence over an order of the Supreme Court.” “No. This is not done. First of all the arrest was prima facie arbitrary,” the bench said.
Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Priyanka’s brother Rajib Sharma who filed the plea in the apex court, told the bench that despite the apex court’s Tuesday order granting her bail she had to spend another night behind the bars.Kaul told the bench that jail authorities Tuesday told them that they have to either bring certified copies of the apex court’s order or approach the court of the chief judicial magistrate concerned for her release.
“If she is not released, the consequences will follow,” the bench said and warned it will issue contempt to officials concerned if Sharma was not released from jail immediately.
“She should be released from jail within half an hour,” the bench said.The bench asked Kaul to get instructions whether she has been released from jail or not.After a few minutes Kaul informed the bench that Sharma has been released from jail today.Kaul told the court that they have moved a separate application, in which they have said that though the closure report in the case was filed in the trial court on May 13, the apex court was not informed during yesterday’s hearing.”If the Supreme Court was informed yesterday that the closure report has been filed in the trial court, then the apex court might not have asked her to apologise,” Kaul said.The apex court had Tuesday granted bail to Sharma and asked to apologise for posting the morphed image of Banerjee.During the hearing on Wednesday, Kaul said the counsel for West Bengal was present in the apex court during yesterday’s hearing but did not apprise the court about the closure report.”You know very well what happens to a counsel appearing for the state,” the bench observed.
To this Kaul said, “I am not on the counsel but I am on the conduct of the state.” However, the bench told Kaul to check up whether Sharma has been released from jail or not.
“If she is not released, we will issue contempt,” the bench said.However, Kaul said when the apex court had yesterday said that Priyanka should be released forthwith, why jail authorities did not release her.”