Rajahmundry/Vijayawada: Touching my mother’s hand after eight years was my happiest moment, said Mr Pidatala Satyam Babu, who was released from the Rajahmundry Central Prison following his acquittal in the Ayesha Meera murder case.

Mr Satyam Babu stepped out of the prison at 10.15 am to an emotional reunion with his mother Mariyamma. Both held hands for some time. Ms Mariyamma told mediapersons at the jail, “I am happy as my son is free. I have won the battle.”

Speaking to reporters at Vijayawada before heading to his native village Anasagaram, Mr Satyam Babu said he was made to suffer for eight years for a crime he did not commit.

“No one can bring back the time I lost, no one can alleviate the pain,” he said.

“Everyone knows what happens in police custod-y”, he said, when asked why he had confessed to the crime. “I have been saying from Day 1 that I had done nothing but no one listened,” he said.

Mr Satyam Babu said he would not seek compensation but would accept help from the government.

“I will look for a job to support my family,” he said. “I thank Ayesha Meera’s parents, especially her mother for supporting me, our lawyers and activists,” he said and paid tribute to the eminent lawyer, the late Bojja Tarakam, who took the case to the High Court. “The people of my village Anasagaram contributed Rs 200 per household to raise money to get me released,” Mr Satyam Babu said,

He said he bore no ill-will towards anybody. “Whatever happened so far, I want to leave in the past. I have completed my BCom from Ambedkar Open University. I want stand by my family, especially my mother. She has gone through so much pain and is in dire straits,” he said.

“My mother is the most precious person for me on this earth. For eight long years, I was separated from my mother for no fault of mine,” he said.

“I missed my mother’s touch for eight years. I have got back the wonderful feeling today. I am very happy.”