Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Pawan Khera welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him anticipatory bail, calling it a defence of “personal liberty”. Reacting on X, a day after the order, Khera wrote, “I thank the Hon’ble Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law… For the second time, Dr Singhvi and his sharp team… have defended my liberty amid sustained threats and intimidation by the Assam CM.”In the post, he framed the relief as more than a personal reprieve. “My bail is not only a personal victory and a source of relief, but also a reminder to those who misuse state power that as long as we remain a Constitutional Democracy, personal liberty cannot be sacrificed for political vendetta,” he said, ending with “Satyameva Jayate.”The Supreme Court, while granting pre-arrest bail, observed that the case appeared to stem from “political rivalry” and stressed that the right to personal liberty under Article 21 must be protected with a high threshold for interference. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar said the criminal process must be applied with “objectivity and circumspection” to ensure it is not coloured by political considerations.Khera had been accused of making allegations against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, including claims about multiple passports and undisclosed foreign assets. The court noted that both sides had exchanged allegations, and said the matter did not warrant custodial interrogation at this stage, adding that the veracity of the claims could be tested during trial.Setting aside an earlier Gauhati High Court order, the bench held that its observations were “erroneous” and appeared to shift the burden unfairly onto the accused. At the same time, the court directed Khera to cooperate fully with the investigation, appear before authorities when required, and refrain from influencing evidence or leaving the country without permission.In his post, Khera also thanked senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for their support, as well as party workers “who stood by me with their voices and prayers.” He added, “No matter how formidable falsehood may seem, it is the truth that triumphs.”
