Nupur Sharma
Prophet Row: Supreme Court directs no coercive action against Nupur Sharma
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said no coercive action, including arrest, should be taken against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in any of the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered over her remarks on the Prophet Mohammed.
"As an interim measure, no coercive measure be taken against the accused petitioner in pursuant with the FIRs registered against her," a two-judge Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justice J B Pardiwala noted.
Nupur Sharma had on Monday in a fresh petition knocked the doors of the Supreme Court seeking a stay of her arrest in the FIRs registered against her across India.
Nupur Sharma said that after apex court’s strong criticism of her, certain fringe elements had renewed threats to her life and also threatened her with rape.
She pleaded that since the first FIR registered against her is in Delhi, all the other FIRs at other places should be clubbed with the Delhi FIR.
Nupur Sharma's alleged remark against the Prophet had triggered massive protests across the country and drawn sharp reactions from many Muslim-majority countries.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) subsequently suspended her from the party.
Lawyer and former Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for Nupur Sharma, told the Supreme Court that there was a real threat to her life.
There are many reports that someone was travelling from Pakistan to kill her.
"My life is under serious threat," Singh said, speaking for his client.
The threats were mounting, he added.
In West Begal, four more cases have been registered against me. "My life is under threat. My life is in danger. This is real threat," Singh said.
Justice Surya Kant, leading the bench, asked him whether he was interested to go to the Delhi High Court. Singh replied: "Yes, My Lords."
Our main concern is that you should avail alternative remedy, Justice Kant told Singh.
"Physically, even, I can't go to any place," Singh replied.
The Supreme Court noted in the order the arguments of Singh that there was a serious threat to Nupur Sharma's life.
The court issued notices to West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Telanagana, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other state governments on the issue of clubbing of multiple FIRs and sought a detailed reply from them and fixed the matter for further hearing to August 10.
(With UNI inputs)
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