Assam, UP governments seek cancellation of interim bail to Pawan Khera

The Assam government alleged that the verbal defamatory attack on a high constitutional functionary by Khera was part of a wider conspiracy to degrade and destabilise the nation.

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THE Assam and Uttar Pradesh governments have both sought cancellation of the interim protection granted to Indian National Congress spokesperson and Chairman, Media and Publicity Department, All India Congress Committee in first information reports (FIRs) filed against him for allegedly mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In its reply to the Supreme Court, the Assam government has alleged that the verbal defamatory attack on a high constitutional functionary by Khera was part of a wider conspiracy to degrade and destabilise the nation.

The Supreme Court on February 23 allowed Khera to be released on interim bail by a magistrate in Delhi in an FIR registered by the Assam Police. It has also issued notice on his plea seeking clubbing of the FIRs in one place.

The Assam government has alleged that Khera intentionally tried to incite violence and disturb public peace.

It argued that there could not be any apology for having committed a criminal offence. The Assam government also complained that Khera has not tendered any apology in his bail petition nor has he tendered any apology after the court order on February 23.

"The submission made before this Hon'ble Court tendering an apology clearly appears to be a tactical submission to get preventive order without any genuine remorse or repentance", the Assam government stated.

Besides, the Assam government has urged the Court to treat its FIR as the lead FIR.

The Uttar Pradesh government has alleged that Khera is indulging in stalling due to investigation into deliberate utterances of defamatory words by Khera relating to one of the highest constitutional functionaries of the country.

It contended that the name of the deceased father of the Prime Minister had deliberately been uttered as Gautam Das by Khera, and he had further deliberately and sarcastically said that though his name is 'Damodardas', his work is similar to that of 'Gautam Das'.