Surrounded amid a tough controversy over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed, former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma has got a huge relief from the Supreme Court. In the latest hearing for the case, the Supreme court has put Nupur’s arrest on hold until August 10th. The court has attached the notice of the ruling to all the parties in the case. During the hearing, her advocate said “Life of my client is in danger, she has received death threats from Patna to Pakistan.”
Under the two-judge bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice JB. Pardiwala, the court might think to transfer all the cases in the matter. Nupur’s advocate appealed to transfer all the cases to Delhi High Court during the hearing.
Article 21 at the rescue:
During the hearing Advocate, Manvendra Singh appealed for her client’s relief citing Article 21 of the constitution. Corroborating his appeal the advocate highlighted the threat issued by Khadim Chisti of Ajmer in a video along with a few more where Nupur received the death threat.
What was said in the court during the hearing?
Justice Suryakant, while presiding over the case asked the advocate, “Are we getting this right that you want to transfer the case to a place of your choice, do you want to go to Delhi High Court?”
To which Advocate Manvendra Singh replied, Yes we want this only, The first FIR was filed in Delhi and this is what law also says that wherever the first FIR has been filed the hearing must be done there only. After your previous order, some development has taken place, but the situation is still dangerous.”
The court on this said we don’t even wish you to travel to a different place for the case. We will see what can be done in the matter.
What did Nupur Sharma appeal in her new petition?
In a new petition, Sharma has informed the Hon'ble court after the court’s remark, that the threat to her life has increased. For this, she pleads that she must be relieved from the cases filed against her in 8 different states. In her petition apart from the center states, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, and Assam have been made parties to it.
Lookout Notice from the Kolkata Police:
On July 2nd itself, the Kolkata Police issued a lookout notice against Nupur Sharma after she didn’t turn up for the inquiry on the given date. Maharashtra and Telangana police also wanted to inquire about Nupur in the matter. On July 1st, Nupur filed the petition seeking relief in the matter to which the court refused and reprimanded her over igniting remarks on Prophet. While presiding over the petition the court said to Nupur, “You are responsible for the current state of the country, your apology came late that too with a condition that if anyone’s sentiment has got hurt then I take back my statement. You should come on national television and must apologize in front of the entire nation.”
Court’s remark on Delhi Police:
Nupur’s Advocate continuously insisted on transferring the case to Delhi, to which the court raised questions about how Delhi Police was functioning. The judges asked, “What steps have been taken by far on the registered FIRs in the city? I think the police have laid down the red carpet for the accused. In my point, you should go to the High Court of all the states, put forward your appeal, and seek bail from the lower court."
BJP’s action against Nupur Sharma:
On one such T.V debate on the Gyanvapi Mosque, Nupur Sharma passed a controversial remark on Prophet Mohammad, in response to her co-panelist debating on the matter of ‘Shivling’ in the mosque premises. After the video surfaced, several Arabian nations issued concern and in some cases summoned India’s high commissioner to their nations. Amid the rising concern, BJP parted ways with her statement and suspended her from all the party responsibilities by issuing a circular with immediate effect beside one more.