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This Article is From Jul 04, 2019

Top Court Notice To Bengal Government On BJP Activist's Plea In Meme Case

Despite the Supreme Courtorder, the BJP activist was freed over 18 hours later - at 9:40 am on May 15.

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All India Reported by , Edited by (with inputs from ANI)

Priyanka Sharma claimed that she was tortured in jail.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a show cause notice to the West Bengal government in connection with a contempt plea filed over the delay in release of BJP activist Priyanka Sharma, who was arrested in May for allegedly posting a meme on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.

After the notice, Ms Sharma said she was happy that the state government was being held accountable.

"I am happy that this government is being held accountable. When they were told to release me on bail, I did not do it immediately. Do they (TMC government) think they are superior to the Supreme Court?" she was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

She also said that Ms Banerjee must also go to jail for remarks she makes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"If I am sent to jail for sharing a meme, she (Banerjee) should also go to jail for whatever she says about our Prime Minister."

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Ms Sharma's brother had alleged there was a delay of over 24 hours in the release of his sister from jail, despite the Supreme Court's order granting bail to her, on May 14.

Priyanka Sharma was freed at 9:40 am on May 15, after spending an extra night in jail.

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Shortly after her release, Priyanka Sharma had claimed that she would not offer an apology as she has done "no wrong". She even went on to claim that she was tortured in jail. "I was tortured in jail. The jailor pushed me. They were very rude inside the jail and the general condition was also quite bad. They didn't let me speak to anyone despite getting bail, didn't let me speak to anyone for five days," Ms Sharma said.

Her brother also claimed she was made to sign a personal bond, which was not a requirement in the Supreme Court order that granted her bail.

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Ms Sharma was picked up by the police from her home on May 10 based on a complaint by Trinamool Congress leader for posting a meme on Ms Banerjee. The charges cited on the complaint include "defamation and offensive messages".

On May 14, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court had granted bail to Priyanka Sharma.

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Her brother, Rajib Sharma, has approached the top court alleging that there was a delay of over 24 hours in releasing his sister from jail, despite the court's May 14 order. 

With inputs from ANI

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