Won’t apologise, will fight this case: Priyanka Sharma who was arrested for sharing Mamata’s morphed pic

Priyanka Sharma, the BJP youth wing convenor in Bengal, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday for allegedly sharing a morphed photo of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media, said she will 'fight this case and not apologise.'

Upon her release on Wednesday, Priyanka Sharma said, "My bail was granted yesterday, but still I wasn't released for another 18 hours. They didn't allow me to meet my advocate and family. They made me sign an apology."

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal for delaying Priyanka’s release. The top court said that it will issue a notice of contempt after it was informed by Sharma's lawyer that she had not been released. However, the state government said the police had released Sharma around 9.40 this morning.  

"I'm told, subject to verification, that she was released at 9:40-10:00 am and that too after made to sign a statement prepared by police. It reflects extremely disturbing trend that SC's order that said 'forthwith release her' wasn't followed for 24 hours," Sharma's lawyer was quoted as saying by ANI.

The court earlier on Tuesday granted bail to Sharma, against whom a complaint was filed in Bengal for sharing a photo in which Banerjee's face was photoshopped onto actor Priyanka Chopra's picture from a MET Gala event in New York.

It also asked Sharma to apologise in writing on her release from jail. It observed freedom of speech ends when it infringes upon the rights of others.

A complaint filed at Dasnagar Police station against Priyanka Sharma accused her of "violating community guidelines", an official of Howrah City police's Cyber Cell is quoted as telling news agency IANS. The complaint was reportedly filed by a Trinamool leader, Bibhas Hazra.

"This is a malicious effort to define our beloved CM who is working tirelessly for our state. We have lodged a police complaint and want stern action to be initiated. She has not just insulted our CM, but also the culture of Bengal," Hazra reportedly complained. The charges cited on the complaint include "defamation and offensive messages".