Made to sign apology letter before her release, Priyanka Sharma to file contempt plea against Kolkata police

Counsel for BJP youth wing worker  Priyanka Sharma Neeraj Kishen Kaul will file a contempt plea against the Kolkata police for allegedly making her sign an apology letter before her release from jail and also to recall the apology. Kaul has said that the apology letter was prepared by the Kolkata police which said that she will not post the meme again.

Kaul has said that making Sharma write the apology letter before her release has violated the Supreme Court order.

Priyanka Sharma's counsel NK Kaul told the Supreme Court earlier on Wednesday, "Sharma is being released, but before her release she was asked to sign an apology letter prepared by the Police which says she will not post this again. 

"I'm told, subject to verification, that she was released at 9:40-10:00 am and that too after was made to sign a statement prepared by police. It reflects an extremely disturbing trend that SC's order that said 'forthwith release her' wasn't followed for 24 hours." 

The Supreme Court has said it will hear BJP Youth Wing Convenor Priyanka Sharma's application seeking action against the West Bengal police authorities in July first week.

In a huge embarrassment for the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the West Bengal Police for not releasing Priyanka Sharma following its order on Tuesday. Sharma was released on Wednesday at 9:40 am.

Justice Indira Banerjee said that not releasing Priyanka Sharma on Tuesday despite the Supreme Court order amounted to contempt.  She has also said that Priyanka Sharma’s arrest was arbitrary. 

READ | 'Intolerance Gang Missing?': Netizens Question Bollywood's Deafening Silence On BJP Activist Priyanka Sharma's Arrest Over Viral Mamata Banerjee Meme

The apex court on Tuesday had observed in the bail plea of Sharma who was arrested for sharing the morphed picture, that it can grant bail to her but she has to apologise at the time of her release.

In its order, the Supreme Court mentioned that the case wasn't meant to serve as a 'precedent':

"The detenue, Priyanka Sharma, is directed to be immediately released on bail. The detenue 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."

"It is made clear that this order is being made in the special  facts and circumstances of this case and shall not operate as a precedent."

READ | Big Embarrassment: SC Pulls Up West Bengal Police, Observes That BJP Youth Leader Priyanka Sharma's Arrest Was Arbitrary And Not Releasing Her Despite Court Order Amounts To Contempt