'Your remarks led to unfortunate incidents': SC slams Nupur Sharma, refuses her plea to club FIRs over anti-Prophet remarks

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1

The Supreme Court on Friday slammed suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her recent anti-Prophet remarks saying her "loose tongue has set the country on fire and her remarks are responsible for unfortunate incidents in the country."

The vacation Bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala after half-an-hour of arguments refused to entertain Sharma's petition to club all FIRs she faces over her anti-Prophet remarks.

Sharma was allowed to withdraw her petition as the SC asked her to appear before respective trial courts for relief.

The development means Sharma, who faces threats to her life and person, has to join investigations wherever she faces charges.

Earlier, the SC said her apology in the matter and retraction of offensive comments "were too late in the day."

The apex court also referred to the arrest of a person on her complaint, but noted that the Delhi Police had not touched her despite multiple cases against her.

The apex court said Sharma's statement was singularly responsible for igniting passions across the country.

"She now has the cheek to come to us for relief?" the court asked, adding that "these kinds of people are not religious because religious people respect all faiths."

The SC said Sharma was a complete loose tongue.

"She makes all kinds of irresponsible remarks and then says she is a lawyer of ten years of standing. She should apologise to the country."

The SC did not entertain senior advocate Maninder Singh's argument that the court had laid down the principle of discouraging multiple FIRs in the Arnab Goswami case.

Sharma through Singh prayed for the probe in the Delhi police FIR at which the court said, "There must have been a red carpet for you there. What has happened in the probe so far?"

The SC also distinguished Sharma's case from that of Arnab Goswami and said she was the spokesperson of a national party and had made comments that had hurt the fabric of the country.

The court also came down heavily on Sharma for her "arrogance" saying "because she is a party spokesperson, power has gone to her head."

"These kinds of people have an agenda and a nefarious aim to gain cheap publicity. These people are not religions," said the SC.

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