Supreme Court granted interim bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera
By Kanu Sarda: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed senior Congress leader Pawan Khera to be released on interim bail by a Delhi court this evening. Congress approached Supreme Court after Pawan Khera was arrested by Assam Police at Delhi airport.
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Supreme Court that Khera was arrested while on a flight to Raipur. He demanded that all the FIRs registered against the Congress leader should be merged.
Hearing in the Supreme Court
Senior advocate AS Singhvi sought interim relief for Pawan Khera and the FIR as many others are being registered across the country. Appearing for Pawan Khera, Singhvi said that the Congress leader apologized in the Supreme Court and said it was wrong and a slip of the tongue.
Meanwhile, counsel appearing for the Assam Police informed the Supreme Court that Pawan Khera has been arrested and that he be remanded in judicial custody.
After hearing the arguments in the court, the apex court order said that the petitioner is the head of media and publicity department of Indian National Congress. The court noted that Pawan Khera held a press conference in Mumbai and that a complaint was filed on February 20 in Lucknow for offenses under sections 153A, 500, 504, 505A of the Indian Penal Code. On February 22, another FIR was registered in Varanasi.
Why was Pawan Khera arrested?
FIRs have been registered at police stations in Lucknow, Varanasi and Assam against Khera for making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi at a press conference on the Adani-Hindenburg dispute on February 17.
The Congress said Khera was arrested after he was taken off the plane to Raipur in connection with an allegation he had made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Delhi Police requested the release of Gera from the flight, against whom a case has been registered in Assam. In protest against this, the Congress leaders took part in a dharna at Dharchal.
The Assam Police said a case has been registered at Haflong police station in Assam and a case has been registered against Khera on charges of criminal conspiracy and incitement to religious discord for his alleged comments against the prime minister.
