SC allows clubbing of all nine cases filed against Nupur Sharma to be heard collectively on August 10.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed suspended and former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma interim relief from arrest. The Supreme Court in a statement said no arrest to be undertaken until the next hearing, i.e. August 10.
The Supreme Court Bench, which comprised Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala asserted no arrest for now.
In connection with her controversial statement on the Prophet in a TV Debate, there were 9 cases filed against her pan India. Sharma applied for a stay on her arrest and also to club nine cases hearing filed against her.
The bench granted relief from arrest and also directed to not take any forced action against her on FIRs/complaints which may be registered in the future against her. FIRs or complaints have been registered since she commented on Muslim religious leader, Prophet Mohammad.
Why did the court Grant Interim Relief?
“In her plea seeking to pursue her earlier petition, she has contended that due to the adverse remarks against her she is facing threats to her life from fringe elements,” PTI said citing the lawyer.
The bench took note of the latest attempts to kill the petitioner- Salman Chisti, Viral statements online, also including a UP man who alleged to behead the petitioner.
Sharma appealed for the clubbing and stay of investigations in different FIRs lodged in several states and transferred them to Delhi. She solicited a collective hearing in all the cases.
Seeing the grave situation and especially danger to the life of the pleader; Supreme Court softened and extended the date of hearings to August 10.
Attempt to kill Nupur Sharma
A Pakistan national named Rizwan Ashraf entered India for purportedly killing former BJP spokesperson Sharma against her derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad. He is being held in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district.
“We have handed him over to local police for further investigation. He was produced before a magistrate from where he was sent to eight days of police custody. We have informed the concerned intelligence agencies about him,” a senior official from BSF told news agency ANI.
The man was taken into custody from an area close to the Hindumalkot border outpost on 16 July, at approximately 11 pm. He was arrested on an intervening night between 16-17 July.
Presently, he is being questioned and cross-questioned about his whereabouts by the Research and Analysis Wing(RAW), Intelligence Bureau(IB) and military intelligence, reported news agency ANI.
The man initially claimed that he only came to visit Ajmer Sharif dargah but later revealed that he also aspired to kill Sharma for her remarks on the Prophet, senior officials asserted.
It was then revealed that he crossed the border for allegedly killing Nupur Sharma.
An FIR has been lodged against the accused under sections of the Foreigners Act, Indian Passport Act and Arms Act, officials said.
The Pakistani man was detained then; and sent into police custody till July 24.
Some Important Timelines of events ever since the statement
May 26 Nupur Sharma made derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad on a national TV Debate on Gyanvapi Mosque Case.
May 28 The first case was filed against her.
June 3 Massive Protests happened in Kanpur post-Friday prayers against the statement.
Stone pelting and violence were witnessed in several towns of Uttar Pradesh.
June 5 Sharma apologised in a post on Twitter and withdrew her controversial statement.
June 28 Udaipur Murder Case (Kanhaiya Lal Teli- A tailor from Udaipur ruthless murder)
July 1 Supreme Court criticised Nupur Sharma claiming that her “loose tongue” has “set
the country on fire”. Also added that “she is responsible for what is happening in the country”.
July 19 SC grants interim relief from arrest till August 10
