A 19-year-old student from Pune, arrested over a social media post concerning the India-Pakistan tensions, has been released from jail after the Bombay High Court (HC) granted her bail, while rebuking the Maharashtra government for “ruining her life” and turning her into a “hardcore criminal.”
The woman was released from the Yerwada Central Jail on Tuesday night following the HC`s order, as per her lawyer.
According to PTI, in a strong rebuke to both the state and her educational institution, the court on Tuesday also suspended the girl`s rustication order, issued by Sinhgad Academy of Engineering.
The student traces her roots to Jammu and Kashmir and had moved to Pune in 2023 to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) degree from Sinhgad Technical Education Society.
On May 7, she shared a post on Instagram from an account called `Reformistan`, which criticised the Indian government during the India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor.
However, within two hours, she deleted the post after receiving a barrage of threats.
Despite this, the Kondhwa Police in Pune registered a First Information Report (FIR) against her on May 9, and she was arrested. The student was later sent to judicial custody and lodged at Yerwada prison.
She then approached the HC through her lawyer, Farhana Shah, challenging the rustication order and sought quashing of the FIR, along with bail.
Following her plea, on Tuesday, the HC came down heavily on the government for its “absolutely shocking” and “radical” response to the student`s social media post.
The court immediately ordered that the woman be released so that she could appear for her ongoing semester exams.
Pursuant to the court order, she was released from jail around 9.30 pm on Tuesday, Shah said. Her family was present outside the jail at the time of her release, the lawyer added.
Meanwhile, the court directed the educational institution to provide the woman with a hall ticket so she could appear for the exams.
HC stated that the college shall, if necessary, provide security and arrange a separate class for her to appear for the exams.
The court also asked the police to ensure that the woman is given adequate protection when she goes to college, as she has expressed fear, reported PTI.
Shah said the girl would go to the college on Wednesday to collect her hall ticket and complete other formalities so she can appear for the remainder of her exams, scheduled from Thursday.
Due to her arrest, the student missed two papers, the lawyer said. She had sought a direction from the HC to the college to allow her to take the two missed papers as a special case.
However, following the court order, the college stated it could not make that decision as the examinations were conducted by a Pune-based university.
The court then permitted the girl to file an application seeking such permission from the university.
According to PTI, in its May 9 rustication letter, the college stated that since the girl had brought disrepute to the institution, it was justified in acting to preserve the institution`s ethos.
It further claimed the petitioner had anti-national sentiments and posed a risk to the campus community and society.
The HC, however, questioned the college for its “hurried” decision to rusticate the student and said its approach should have been to reform her, not to punish her, reported PTI.
The court remarked that her arrest should not have occurred, especially since she had promptly deleted the post, expressed remorse, and apologised.
While cautioning the student to act responsibly in the future and refrain from uploading such posts, the High Court made its sternest remarks regarding the state’s handling of the situation.
(With inputs from PTI)