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Bombay HC expressed displeasure at arrest of student over tweet against Sharad Pawar



Sonal Bhargava | Prabhat Bandhulya

The Bombay High Court on Monday disapproved the action of Maharashtra government for arresting 21-year-old student Nikhil Bhamre after he had tweeted against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. After reading the tweets that led to the FIRs, the Court voiced its displeasure with the authorities. "There are hundreds and thousands of tweets everyday. Will you take cognizance of each and every tweet? We do not want FIRs like these. …Unheard of… some student is kept in custody like this," the Bench said. The Court was hearing a writ petition filed by Bhamre seeking the quashing of the FIRs filed against him after he reportedly sent tweets aimed at the veteran politician leader from his account. Several FIRs have been filed against Bhamre for offences under the Indian Penal Code's Sections 153, 153A (promoting enmity between communities), 500, 501 (defamation), 504 (criminal intimidation), 505, 506 (statements contributing to public mischief) (IPC). Booking the accused in the current case, according to Justice Shinde, could be more damaging to Pawar's character, who was the target of the tweets. Before adjourning the session, Justice Shinde asked the public prosecutor to follow the State Home Department's orders and file a statement of no objection to Bhamre's release.

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