BJP Yuva Morcha activist Priyanka Sharma was arrested by the West Bengal Police for allegedly posting a morphed image of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media has been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

While agreeing to grant her bail, the Supreme Court asked BJP Yuva Morcha leader Priyanka Sharma to apologise to West Bengal chief minister.

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"She's a member of the political party. Elections are going on. At this stage, we are not on the aspect of criminal law. We are asking for an apology because it is election time," the Supreme Court bench said. It further added that freedom of expression can't be allowed to violate someone's right.

"We are not on the aspect of a criminal offence. Someone's feelings have been hurt. There has to be an apology," the Supreme Court said.

Priyanka Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was arrested on May 10 by the state police under section 500 (defamation) of the IPC and under other provisions of the Information Technology Act on the complaint of a local Trinamool Congress leader Vibhas Hazra, her plea had said.

The BJP worker was reportedly forced to move the Supreme Court as there was a strike in local courts till May 14 in Howrah and because Priyanka had been remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a Howrah local court on May 11.

Sharma allegedly shared on Facebook the photo in which Banerjee's face has been photoshopped on to actor Priyanka Chopra's picture from the MET Gala event in New York arrest was followed by protests from the BJP and other social media users.