The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim bail granted to Congress spokesman Pawan Khera till February 3, 2023, giving more time to Assam and Uttar Pradesh Police to file their reply to Khera’s petition for the clubbing of all the FIRs filed against him in Uttar Pradesh and Assam (on February 22) and their transfer at one place.
A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice J.B. Pardiwala posted the matter for hearing on March 3, 2023, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought more time to file reply to Khera plea.
Senior Advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Khera, sought extension of interim relief to Khera.
On February 23, 2023, the apex court had directed the jurisdictional court – a court in Dwaraka in the instant case – to release Khera by giving him interim bail.
Following the apex court order, Dwarka court in south-west Delhi granted interim bail to Khera, when he was produced before it by the Assam police.
Congress leader Khera was arrested by Assam Police on a complaint that was filed following Khera distorting the name of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the course of a press conference.
In the said press conference Khera was heard saying, “Narendra Gautamdas Modi despite a prompting that it is Damodardas. Then he is heard asking – is it Gautamdas or Damodardas?
Khera has already apologised for it.
Khera was deboarded at Delhi’s IGI airport from an aircraft by which, along with other Congress leaders, he was going to Raipur to attend Congress plenary meeting.