‘Without furnishing FIR copy…in illegal manner’: Pawan Khera on his arrest

A Delhi court granted interim bail to Khera in a case related to his alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Published on: Feb 23, 2023, 19:26:37 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday said he was arrested by Assam police in an illegal manner, adding that he has complete trust in the judicial system. Speaking to news agency ANI following his release on interim bail, Khera, who was deboarded from a Raipur-bound IndiGo flight, said he will leaving for Chhattisgarh capital shortly to attend Congress's three-day plenary session.

Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera. (ANI)

“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,” ANI quoted Khera as saying.

“Our struggle to protect this nation, protect constitutional values - my leader Rahul Gandhi is carrying on his struggle fearlessly, I will strengthen his effort,” he added.

A Delhi court granted interim bail to Khera in a case related to his alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Khera had recently called him "Narendra Gautamdas Modi", in an apparent swipe at the prime minister over the row involving business tycoon Gautam Adani.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Archana Beniwal granted interim bail to Khera on a bail bond of ₹30,000 and one surety of the like amount. The magistrate passed the order around 6.10 pm after receiving a copy of the apex court's order for Khera's release.

Earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at the government for the arrest, claiming that it is part of a pattern. "Notice is given to opposition members if they raise issues in Parliament and Enforcement Directorate raids are conducted on our leaders in Chhattisgarh before the plenary session," he said.

"Today our media chairman (Khera) was forcibly deplaned and arrested. The Modi government has reduced India's democracy to 'Hitler-shahi'. We strongly condemn this dictatorship," Kharge tweeted in Hindi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.