Meme controversy: Priyanka Sharma released, says ‘I will fight this case and not apologise’

Meme controversy: Priyanka Sharma released, says ‘I will fight this case and not apologise’

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 08:07 PM IST
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‘I will fight this case. I will not apologise’, were the words of BJP Youth Wing Convenor Priyanka Sharma, who was released today after being arrested for sharing a meme on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During a press conference at BJP office, she revealed that she was detained for 18 hours even after her bail was granted by Supreme Court. “My bail was granted y’day, but still I wasn’t released for another 18 hours. They didn’t allow me to meet my advocate & family. They made me sign an apology”, Sharma told ANI.

Sharma reached her party’s office in Kolkata by noon after walking out of Alipore Correctional Home.  The BJP activist alleged that she was harassed and tortured inside jail. “I was tortured in the jail. Even the jailer pushed me yesterday. I told them I am not a criminal that you are pushing me into the jail room like this,” she said. “They behaved very rudely. The condition inside was very bad.” “Me and my family has gone through much agony which I think I don’t deserve,” Sharma told PTI over phone.

Her brother, Rajiv Sharma, alleged that the jail authorities violated the Supreme Court order by not releasing her on Tuesday. “When we went to the jail yesterday, officials said they needed a hard copy of the order. I am in Delhi and it took time to get the hard copy of the order and therefore the delay. They did not abide by the Supreme Court order of immediate release,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the top court had censured the West Bengal government after Sharma’s counsel contended that her release was being delayed. “Why was she not released immediately?” the bench asked the counsel of the state government.

The two-judge bench threatened to issue a contempt notice against the state government after Sharma’s lawyer told the court that his client was not being allowed to walk free despite the top court’s directive of immediate release yesterday. Advocate NK Kaul, appearing on behalf of Sharma, told the court that she was being made to sign apology letter prepared by the state Police declaring that she will not post such content in the future. The apex court also said that it will hear the BJP member’s plea seeking action against West Bengal Police, in the first week of July.

Sharma was granted bail by the court on Tuesday and asked to tender a written apology after release. A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna had earlier directed the 25-year-old to furnish an apology before release. Later, the court called her counsel back and informed about the changes in its directive. Priyanka Sharma was taken into custody on May 10 on a complaint by a TMC member and produced before a Howrah court the next day which sent her to 14-day judicial custody.

With ANI and PTI inputs 

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