Supreme Court steps in, says Pawan Khera to be granted interim bail by Delhi court

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted relief to Congress president Pawan Kher. The Supreme Court granted him bail. The Supreme Court said that Congress leader Pawan Khera's plea for protection against arrest and imprisonment in multiple FIRs will be listed on February 27.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said he was ready to "fight a long battle" after he was kicked off a Raipur-bound Indigo flight and arrested at the Delhi airport, leading to a major political row. Meanwhile, the Congress has sought help from the Supreme Court in several FIRs filed against Kher for alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A major drama unfolded at the Delhi airport on Thursday after Kher was dropped off by police from Delhi and Assam while he was leaving for Raipur along with other party leaders for the Congress plenary. After alighting from the plane, the leaders sat on a 'dharna' (sit-down protest) on the tarmac and raised slogans. "We'll see (in which case they take me). It is a long battle and I am ready to fight,” Khera said after his arrest.

Indigo clears when disembarking

Indigo said Khera was removed from the Raipur-bound flight by the police and was following the advice of the relevant authorities. “Police at Delhi airport deboarded a passenger from Raipur bound flight 6E 204. Some other passengers also decided to get off the plane on their own. We follow the advice of the authorities concerned. The flight is now delayed and we regret the inconvenience caused to other passengers,” Indigo said in a statement, according to reports.

The Assam Police sent the request to the Delhi Police

The decision to disembark Khera was taken by the Delhi Police after receiving a request in this regard from the Assam Police. Meanwhile, the Assam Police said the action was related to a case they registered at the Haflong police station.

“A case has been registered against Congress leader Pawan Kher at Haflong police station in Assam's Dima Hasao district. A team of Assam Police has gone to Delhi to take Pawan Khera into custody in connection with the case,” Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, IGP (Law and Order) of Assam Police mentioned in a report.

Congress slams PM Modi, says he is a 'dictatorship'

The matter triggered a political malaise with the Congress criticizing the Center for "illegal arrest" of its leader. Congress leaders started protesting on the tarmac over the "offensiveness".

Arrest a day before the plenary session of Congress

Khera, along with other Congress leaders, was on his way to Raipur to attend the party's plenary meeting, which began on February 24. Several party leaders got off the plane after he was disembarked and staged a dharna on the tarmac. The leaders claimed the central government was "arrogant", with a party spokesman saying "the dictator is confused.. if he (Pawan Khera) has done something wrong, start an investigation against him. What is the point of playing hide and seek. This flight will not take off until all of us are allowed to board," Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

According to sources, CISF personnel have been deployed to deal with the situation. Airport Police including DCP also reached the spot to legally arrest Pawan Khera on the request of Assam Police. Assam Police officials were also present at the airport, a report mentioned.

The SC judges hearing the Pawan Khera case showed a video of his press conference where he referred to PM Modi as 'Narendera Damordardas – Gautamdas Modi'. The Assam government opposed Kher's release in court.