Prophet row: SC grants interim relief to Nupur Sharma, fixes her plea for further hearing on August 10

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to former BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma and directed that no coercive steps be taken against her in the FIRs/Complaints registered over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed or on FIRs/Complaints which may be registered in future.

The court has fixed her plea for further hearing on August 10.



Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma had moved to Supreme Court, seeking stay on her arrest in the nine FIRs against her for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate.

Sharma had sought direction to club all the FIRs registered against her across the country.

She said that after the top court's strong criticism of her, the fringe elements have renewed their threat to her life and also given rape threats.

On July 1, the Supreme Court came down heavily on Sharma and said that she and "her loose tongue" has set the entire country on fire and she is singlehandedly responsible for what is happening in the country.

The bench had slammed Sharma for her statement made during a TV news channel debate and while referring to the Udaipur incident, where two men murdered a tailor, said her outburst is responsible for the unfortunate incident.

Rejecting Sharma's request to transfer all the FIRs registered against her in many states for her alleged remarks on Prophet Mohammad, to Delhi for investigation, the bench had observed that "She has threat or she has become security threat?"

Senior advocate Maninder Singh appearing for Sharma had then withdrawn the plea.

"The way she has ignited emotions across the country. This lady is singlehandedly responsible for what is happening in the country," the bench had said as per ANI reports.

The apex court then said that Sharma should have gone to the TV and apologised to the nation.

It also slammed Sharma for her arrogance and said because she is the spokesperson of a party, power has gone to her head.

It had also asked about what the Delhi Police has done after a complaint was registered against Nupur Sharma. The bench had said on her complaint a person is arrested, but despite multiple FIRs she has not yet been touched by Delhi police.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Sharma seeking the transfer of all the FIRs registered against her across the country to Delhi for her remarks on a TV news channel debate about Prophet Muhammad which had led to violent protests and riots in many states.

After the observation made on Sharma, both the judges were targeted on social media by users.

Later, while attending an event Justice JB Pardiwala even expressed concerns at the personal attacks on judges and said that personal attacks on judges for their judgments lead to a "dangerous scenario" where the judges have to think about what the media thinks instead of what the law really thinks.

Justice Pardiwala had said that social and digital media is primarily resorted to expressing personalised opinions more against the judges, rather than a constructive critical appraisal of their judgments.

(With inputs from agencies)