Mamata's morphed picture row reaches top court, hearing against arrest of BJP activist tomorrow

The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear the plea of a BJP youth activist, Priyanka Sharma, challenging her arrest by the West Bengal Police for allegedly sharing a morphed photo of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media. Priyanka Sharma is accused of sharing a photo in which Mamata Banerjee's face has been photoshopped on the form of actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the MET Gala in New York on her Facebook timeline. She was picked up by the police from her home. She has been sent to two weeks' judicial custody.

A vacation bench, comprising justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna, on Monday took note of the plea of advocate NK Kaul, representing the activist, that the issue of her arrest be accorded urgent hearing. “We will hear the bail plea of BJP youth wing worker Priyanka Sharma on Tuesday,” the bench said. 

The bench posted the plea for hearing on Tuesday after the senior lawyer submitted that there has been a complete strike in West Bengal and it has forced the woman to challenge her arrest in the apex court.

The senior lawyer said the woman activist is in judicial custody following her arrest by the police.

A complaint filed at Dasnagar Police station against Priyanka Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, accuses her of "violating community guidelines", an official of Howrah City police's Cyber Cell is quoted as telling news agency IANS. The complaint was reportedly filed by a Trinamool leader, Bibhas Hazra.

"This is a malicious effort to define our beloved CM who is working tirelessly for our state. We have lodged a police complaint and want stern action to be initiated. She has not just insulted our CM, but also the culture of Bengal," Mr Hazra reportedly complained. The charges cited on the complaint include "defamation and offensive messages".