Mamata Meme Row : SC Issues Contempt Notice To WB Govt For Allegedly Delaying Release Of BJP Leader Priyanka Sharma

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to West Bengal Government  on a contempt plea filed by brother of BJP Yuva Morcha Convenor Priyanka Sharma, who was arrested for sharing a meme of WB CM Mamata Banerjee, alleging despite SC's orders for her immediate release, she wasn't released by police immediately.

The Government has been asked to give its reply within four weeks.

Sharma was arrested on May 10 under Information Technology Act for sharing a meme in which she transposed the face of the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee onto the photograph of actor Priyanka Chopra taken at the Met Gala event in New York, USA. The arrest, which happened in the middle of heated election campaign in Bengal, attracted widespread criticism as a high-handed clampdown on political opponents.

Contending that the arrest and custody of Priyanka Sharma was illegal, her brother Rajib Sharma moved a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court seeking her immediate release.

On May 14, a vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna directed the immediate release of Sharma from jail. However, the bench also directed her to tender apology in writing for sharing the meme, with a clarification that bail is not contingent on the tendering of apology and the two issues are not inter-linked.

Next day, Sharma's lawyer mentioned in the Court that she has not been released despite the order. The WB Government submitted that the Court's order was received only at 5 PM on the previous day. She was released on May 15, after the Court censured the government for the delay and warned of contempt action.