BJP's Priyanka Sharma released, SC censures WB government over delay

BJP youth wing member Priyanka Sharma was freed by West Bengal authorities on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court ordered her immediate release.

Sharma, arrested for sharing a meme on Mamata Banerjee, reached her party's office in Kolkata by noon after walking out of Alipore Correctional Home.

Earlier in the day, the top court had censured the West Bengal government after Sharma's counsel contended that her release was being delayed. "Why was she not released immediately?" the bench asked the counsel of the state government.

The two-judge bench threatened to issue a contempt notice against the state government after Sharma's lawyer told the court that his client was not being allowed to walk free despite the top court's directive of immediate release yesterday.

Advocate NK Kaul, appearing on behalf of Sharma, told the court that she was being made to sign apology letter prepared by the state Police declaring that she will not post such content in the future.

The apex court also said that it will hear the BJP member's plea seeking action against West Bengal Police, in the first week of July.

Sharma was granted bail by the court on Tuesday and asked to tender a written apology after release.

A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna had earlier directed the 25-year-old to furnish an apology before release. Later, the court called her counsel back and informed about the changes in its directive.

Priyanka Sharma was taken into custody on May 10 on a complaint by a TMC member and produced before a Howrah court the next day which sent her to 14-day judicial custody.