Khera was en route to Raipur for the Congress plenary session when he was requested to disembark at Delhi airport and detained by Delhi Police. For his alleged remarks against the prime minister, he was subsequently arrested by Assam Police in connection with a case registered at the Haflong police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 153A (disturbing religious harmony), 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national interest), 500 (punishment for defamation), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).

The Congress official petitioned the Supreme Court for relief from the multiple FIRs lodged against him in Assam, Lucknow, and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, for his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Modi.Khera had recently misspelt the complete name of Prime Minister Modi in an apparent dig at business magnate Gautam Adani. He maintained, however, that it was merely a mistake of the tongue, and that one should not read too much into it.

Abhishek Singhvi, a senior advocate and party colleague of Khera, argued in the apex court that the language used during the press conference was incorrect and that he would not abide by it. He added that the petitioner would also offer an apology without conditions.”He (Khera) has spoken during a press conference. He has made statements that I cannot repeat in court but that I would not have made myself.”

However, Singhvi argued that the multiple FIRs in various states constituted intentional harassment and urged the Supreme Court to consolidate all FIRs under one jurisdiction.Chandrachud informed Singhvi that his client has been granted protection, but that “there must be some dialogue.”

Also Read | Supreme Court grants interim bail to Pawan Khera

The apex court issued notices to the states of Assam and Uttar Pradesh, requesting their responses to Khera’s petition for the consolidation of multiple FIRs lodged against him in Assam, Lucknow, and Varanasi for his alleged comments against the prime minister.

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Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a Rajya Sabha member and prominent advocate, informed the apex court of Khera’s arrest while en route to Raipur. He wanted all FIRs filed against the Congress leader to be consolidated into one.

AS Singhvi, a senior advocate, requested interim relief for Pawan Khera and the consolidation of multiple FIRs that have been filed across the country. Singhvi, who represents Pawan Khera, informed the Supreme Court that the Congress leader has apologised and stated that it was a linguistic error.

In the meantime, the Assam Police attorney informed the Supreme Court that Pawan Khera had been apprehended and would be presented for transit remand.

After hearing the argument in court, the Supreme Court ruled that the petitioner is the head of the Indian National Congress’s media and publicity department. The court noted that Pawan Khera held a press conference in Mumbai, and on February 20, a complaint was filed in Lucknow alleging violations of Indian Penal Code Sections 153a, 500, 504, and 505A. Another FIR was filed on February 22 in Varanasi.

The Supreme Court noted that Pawan Khera’s petition was not for the dismissal of the FIR, but rather for “clubbing of FIRs since all FIRs have the same motive.”
CJI Chandrachud stated, “Dr. Singhvi states that the petitioner has clarified that the statement was erroneous and that he will unconditionally apologise for the statement as it was not his intention to be personally objectionable by using the statement.”

The Supreme Court acknowledged that Pawan Khera’s words, considered at face value, did not lead to the sections cited in the FIR. The judge ordered the transfer and consolidation of all FIRs against Khera.

“To protect the petitioner until he petitions for regular bail before the jurisdictional court in relation to all FIRs, we direct that the petitioner be released on interim bail by the Delhi Court until the next date of listing,” the Supreme Court order stated.

WHY WAS PAWAN KHERA ARRESTED?

On February 17, police stations in Lucknow, Varanasi, and Assam filed FIRs against Khera for making denigrating remarks about Prime Minister Modi during a press briefing on the Adani-Hindenburg dispute.

Congress asserted that Khera was detained after disembarking a flight to Raipur in relation to his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Delhi Police requested Khera, against whom an Assam case has been registered, to deplane. In protest, Congress leaders staged a dharna on the tarmac.

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According to the Assam Police, a case has been opened at the Haflong police station and Khera has been charged with criminal conspiracy and inciting communal disharmony for his alleged remarks against the prime minister.

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