Congress leader Pawan Khera has said that “personal liberty cannot be sacrificed for political vendetta” after the Supreme Court granted him anticipatory bail in a defamation-related case linked to allegations concerning Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife. The remarks came a day after the apex court’s order, which provided relief to Khera while imposing certain conditions on his bail.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar, in an order uploaded on Friday, granted pre-arrest bail to Khera after reserving its judgment earlier on Thursday. The court reiterated that the right to personal liberty is a fundamental constitutional safeguard and cannot be curtailed without strong justification, particularly in cases where political overtones appear to be involved.

Following the verdict, Khera expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court and his legal team, including senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi and members of the Congress legal department. He also alleged that he had faced sustained pressure and intimidation in connection with the case and thanked senior Congress leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K.C. Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh for their support during the legal proceedings.

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In his social media statement on X, Khera described the bail order as both a personal relief and a broader reminder of the importance of constitutional protections. He said the ruling reinforces the principle that state power should not be misused for political purposes. He added that despite attempts to suppress dissent, truth ultimately prevails in a constitutional democracy, invoking the phrase “Satyameva Jayate.”

The Congress party also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that the law stands above political considerations and urging Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reflect on what it described as “deeply inappropriate” public statements made in connection with the case. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi further questioned the propriety of such remarks from a constitutional office-holder and suggested that regret should be expressed, noting that the court had taken cognisance of the issue.

Reacting sharply, Chief Minister Sarma dismissed the criticism, stating that he does not require lessons on democracy or public conduct from opposition leaders or their legal representatives. He also asserted that the matter was “just a beginning and not the end,” signalling that the legal and political contest over the issue is likely to continue.

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