The release order of a Manipur based political activist came from the Supreme Court, after he was arrested for sedition in May
The Supreme Court ordered the release of Leichombam Erendro, a Manipur-based political activist who was arrested for sedition in May over some Facebook posts. The 37-year-old was held under the stringent National Security Act for saying “cow dung and cow urine don’t work.”
The judges ordered his immediate release even though Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time and wanted the case to be adjourned till tomorrow.
“We are of the view that the continued detention of the petitioner would amount to violation of right to life and personal liberty under Article 21. We direct him to be released today by 5 pm with a personal bond of ₹ 1,000,” said Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah, a two-judge bench.
The order came on a plea by Mr. Erendro’s father.
Along with journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem, the activist was arrested for posting a comment over the death of Saikhom Tikendra Singh, the then state BJP President. A complaint was filed against them by Manipur BJP Vice-President Usham Deban and General Secretary P Premananda Meetei, saying their posts were offensive.
Also read: “Do We Still Need Sedition Law In Country?”: CJI Asks Centre
In June 2020, Mr. Erendro was charged with sedition over another Facebook post that had the photo of Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba Leishemba with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The photo was captioned as ‘Minai macha’, showing Manipur’s titular king bowing with folded hands before the senior BJP leader. Roughly translated from Manipur’s native language, Meitei, Minai macha means “son of a servant”.
The activist was later on bail in this case.
Last week, the Supreme Court had questioned if the sedition law was “still necessary after 75 years of Independence”. The court had compared the law to ‘a saw in the hands of an overzealous carpenter’, referring to the potential misuse of this law which holds ‘enormous power’.
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