New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted interim bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to his alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Khera was arrested earlier in the day from the IGI Airport by officials of the Assam Police, hours after he was stopped from boarding a flight to Raipur.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dwarka court Archana Beniwal granted interim bail till February 28 to Khera on a bail bond of Rs 30,000 and one surety of the same amount.
Post receiving a copy of the top court’s order, the magistrate passed the order to release Khera.
The Supreme Court had ruled that Khera will be released on interim bail upon production before a magistrate in Delhi and the interim relief is till Tuesday.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera: “We have protected you but there has to be some level of discourse...”.
The top court will hear Khera’s plea to club all FIRs at one place.
Illegal arrest, says Khera
Shortly after being granted interim bail by the Dwarka court on Thursday, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that he was deboarded from the aircraft and arrested by Assam Police in an illegal manner.
“Without furnishing a copy of FIR and notice, I was deboarded from the aircraft and arrested by Assam Police in an illegal manner. I have complete trust in the judicial system which protected my freedom of expression today,” said Pawan Khera.
Khera said that he would strengthen the efforts of his leader Rahul Gandhi to protect this nation and protect constitutional values.
“Our struggle to protect this nation, protect constitutional values - my leader Rahul Gandhi is carrying on his struggle fearlessly, I will strengthen his efforts,” he said.
When asked about his next step for the ongoing 85th plenary session of Congress, Khera said that he would be going there now.
No one is above the law, says BJP
The opposition party leaders should not consider themselves “above the law”, the BJP said on Thursday as it tore into the Congress for staging a protest in the Delhi airport tarmac denouncing police action against its spokesperson Pawan Khera.
Addressing the media, National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that everything has been done lawfully. Congress leaders should not live under this misconception that they are above the law. Congress is playing the “victim card” after using derogatory words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his family members.
He further said, “Congress leaders ‘flouted rules’ by protesting on Delhi airport tarmac and endangering the lives of fellow passengers. People were inconvenienced by the Congress’ protests.”
Assam Police registers case
A case has been registered at Haflong police station in Assam’s Dima Hasao district against Congress leader Pawan Khera, police said on Thursday.
Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, IGP L&O and spokesperson of Assam police told ANI that a team of Assam police left for Delhi to take remand of Pawan Khera in connection with the Haflong police station case.
“A case has been registered against Pawan Khera at Haflong police station in Dima Hasao district, our team is Delhi, and we have requested Delhi Police to arrest him. We will bring him to Assam after permission from the local court,” the Assam Police said.
Congress leader Pawan Khera was stopped from boarding a plane at Delhi airport after a request was received from the Assam Police to stop him,” Delhi Police said on Thursday.
The Congress leaders protested after Khera was stopped by Delhi Police from boarding the plane at the airport.
In a video shared on Congress’s Twitter handle, Pawan Khera said that he does not know why was he deboarded.
“I don’t know. I was told that your baggage has to be checked. I said I do not have any luggage except a handbag. When I came down, I was told that I cannot go, a DCP would come. We are waiting for the DCP for the last 20 minutes. I don’t know why I am being stopped,” he said.
