July 19, 2021: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of Manipur activist Erendro Leichombam by 5 PM today. Leichombam was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for a Facebook post on the state BJP chief’s death from Covid. He was arrested on May 13.

"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 Rs 1,000," a two-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said.

The order was issued after the bench heard arguments by Advocate Shadan Farasat. The activist’s father L Raghumani Singh had filed a petition in the court arguing that the NSA was only invoked to defeat the bail earlier granted to Erendro.

Erendro was arrested for his Facebook post over state BJP chief S Tikendra Singh’s death due to Covid. Erendro had written, “The cure for Corona is not cow dung & cow urine. The cure is science & common sense. Professor ji RIP.”  Usham Deben Singh, vice-president of state BJP had filed a complaint against the activist alleging that the post had “deliberately and wilfully insulted and outraged religious fillings and sentiments” of BJP workers and family members of the deceased.

The activist, along with journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem, were arrested for posting the comment.

Earlier, in June 2020, Mr Erendro was charged with sedition by the state police over another Facebook post that had the photo of Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba Leishemba with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The photo, captioned Minai macha (son of servant), showed Manipur's titular king bowing with folded hands before the senior BJP leader.

Erendro was later released on bail in this case.