Remarks against PM | SC extends interim bail of Congress’ Pawan Khera till March 3

Mr. Khera was arrested at the Delhi airport in connection with his alleged remarks against PM Modi, made at a press conference on February 17 at Mumbai.

Congress leader Pawan Khera leaves after appearing before the Dwarka Court, in New Delhi on February 23. | Photo Credit: ANI

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the operation of the interim bail granted to Congress party spokesperson Pawan Khera till March 3. 

The move comes after both Assam and Uttar Pradesh sought time to file their responses to his plea to club and transfer FIRs registered against him in both States for reportedly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “Narendra Gautamdas Modi”.

A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud had on February 23 intervened within hours of police action against Mr. Khera, who was deplaned at the Delhi domestic airport while on his way to Raipur to attend the Congress plenary.

Mr. Khera was granted interim bail till February 28 by the Magistrate, before whom he was produced for a transit remand to Assam to face charges, on the order of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had listed for February 27 his plea for clubbing and transferring the multiple FIRs lodged against him in Assam and Uttar Pradesh to one jurisdiction.

However, on Monday, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta for Assam and Additional Advocate-General Garima Prasad for Uttar Pradesh sought more time to file their replies. Agreeing to the request, the Supreme Court said meanwhile the “ad–interim order passed on February 23, 2023 shall continue to remain in operation till the next date of listing”.

Mr. Khera is reported to have referred to Mr. Modi as “Narendra Gautamdas Modi” during a press conference seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the U.S.-based Hindenburg Research’s report against the Adani Group. The video of the press meet was played in the Chief Justice’s courtroom by the Assam Police on February 23.

The Congress spokesperson has been booked in both States under Sections 153A (promoting religious enmity), 153B (imputations or assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A (outraging religious feelings), 500 (defamation), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 505 (statements amounting to public mischief), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.