Until the next hearing date, the Supreme Court on Tuesday protected former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma from arrest. She had petitioned the Supreme Court in order to be shielded from arrest and to renew her request that the FIRs filed in response to her remarks about the Prophet be combined.
As a temporary measure, the top court granted Nupur Sharma protection from arrest and sent notices to states like Delhi, West Bengal, and Maharashtra asking them to respond to her request to transfer or quash the FIRs filed against her.
On August 10, the court will take up the matter for a further hearing. ” This court is worried about making sure the petitioner can use the alternative remedy that this court has approved.
The court granted Nupur Sharma relief while directing that notices be sent to all respondents in order to investigate these options. The court was informed about the social media posts threatening Nupur Sharma with rape and murder by senior attorney Maninder Singh, who was representing Sharma.
Singh added that “at least 3-4 more FIRs have been filed in West Bengal,” as well. In her petition, Nupur Sharma included as parties Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Assam, all of which have filed formal complaints against her.
According to the former BJP spokesperson, she has been receiving death threats since the vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala made disparaging remarks about her on July 1.
According to attorney Maninder Singh, the threats have made it “physically impossible” for her to approach high courts. He also claimed that because the first FIR was filed in Delhi and she is a resident of Delhi, the investigation in all cases should be moved there.
“Let a notice be sent to the respondents with a return deadline of August 10th in order to investigate this. Additionally, copies of the main writ petition should be sent with the notice. granted through standing counsels for dasti and service. As a temporary measure, it is ordered that no coercive action will be taken against the petitioner as a result of the contested FIRs or any other FIRs or complaints that may be filed or pursued in the future in relation to the same telecast from May 26, 2022”
The bench noted in its order that the petitioner had “now filed an application pointing out that it has become almost impossible for her to avail of the alternative remedy granted by this court and that there is an imminent necessity for intervention of this court to protect her life and liberty.”
The bench also stated that Nupur Sharma would receive the same relief for “any future complaint or FIR” based on her comments during the TV debate.
On July 1, the SC not only rejected Sharma’s request for relief but also severely criticised her for her comments made on television. A bench on vacation objected to her remarks and said, “We witnessed the argument over how she was incited. But it is shameful how she said all of this and then claimed to be a lawyer.
She needs to apologise to the entire nation. She is solely to blame for what is taking place in the nation.” Previously, Nupur Sharma’s comments had caused a significant uproar and numerous FIRs had been filed against her for hurting religious sentiments.