New Delhi: The Congress welcomed the Supreme Court order granting anticipatory bail to senior leader Pawan Khera in a case filed by Assam Police based on a complaint linked to the family of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Addressing a press conference, party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the ruling reinforces the principle that personal liberty holds priority and arrest should remain a last option. They stressed that arrests must meet the “triple test” of flight risk, evidence tampering, or influencing witnesses.
Singhvi said the judgment sends a clear message against misuse of arrest powers for political purposes. He pointed out that earlier, a magistrate in Assam had rejected the state’s plea for arrest, calling it speculative and unsupported by evidence. He added that most charges in the case are bailable, making custodial interrogation unnecessary.
The Congress highlighted that the case moved through several courts within a short period, including lower courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court. Singhvi said this reflects continued reliance on judicial remedies.
He also noted that the Supreme Court raised concern over observations made by the Gauhati High Court which went beyond the scope of the original complaint. He said the ruling recognises the context of political speech and the need to protect freedom of expression.
Ramesh said the verdict reflects strength of the judicial system and urged public officials to act with responsibility in public discourse.
By Abdul Bari Masoud
