New Delhi, June 12: Delhi-based freelance journalist Prashant Kanojia was released by the UP Police on Wednesday, following the order issued by the Supreme Court. The 23-year-old scribe was taken into custody on Friday after he was booked for sharing an "objectionable" post against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The Supreme Court, which heard a writ petition filed by Kanojia's wife on Tuesday, had ordered his immediate release, saying that fundamental right to liberty is "sacrosanct" and "non-negotiable".

The apex court clarified however that granting bail to Kanojia cannot be construed as approval of the posts or tweets.

The order is being passed in "view of the excessiveness of the action taken", it said, making it clear that the proceedings against the journalist will go on as per the law.

The top court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for arresting the scribe and observed that fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution cannot be infringed upon by the state.

Apart rom Kanojia, four others have also been arrested. While two of them -- Ishita Singh and Anuj Shukla -- are editor and head respectively of a Noida-based news channel, the two others taken into custody are locals based in Gorakhpur.

In the alleged defamatory post shared by them, a woman is seen outside the CM office, claiming that she has been in touch with Adityanath over the last year through "video-conferencing". The woman further alleged that she has been sent a marriage proposal by the Chief Minister.

Notably, the UP CM is a "Yogi" who has renounced personal life. Apart from being a top leader of the BJP, he is also the head priest of the revered Gorakhnath Matt in Gorakhpur.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2019 07:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).