New Delhi

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday said the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him anticipatory bail sends a strong message that personal liberty cannot be undermined through political misuse of power.

Khera’s remarks came a day after the apex court granted him pre-arrest bail in a case linked to his comments regarding Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, observing that the dispute appeared to have political undertones.

A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar, in its order uploaded on Friday, allowed Khera’s plea for anticipatory bail subject to specified conditions after reserving its verdict earlier this week.

Reacting to the development, Khera took to social media platform X to express gratitude to the Supreme Court for safeguarding constitutional values and upholding the rule of law.

He also thanked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and the Congress party’s legal team for their support, saying they had once again defended his freedom in the face of what he described as sustained political pressure and intimidation.

Khera further acknowledged the support extended by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, along with party workers and supporters across the country.

Calling the order more than a personal legal relief, Khera said it serves as a reminder to those attempting to misuse state institutions that individual freedom remains protected under India’s constitutional framework.

He asserted that however powerful false narratives may appear, truth ultimately prevails.

In its observations, the Supreme Court noted that the right to personal liberty is a cherished fundamental right and any attempt to curtail it must meet a high threshold, especially in cases where political rivalry appears to be a factor.

The Congress welcomed the verdict, saying it reaffirmed that the rule of law stands above political influence. The party also urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to introspect over remarks it described as inappropriate and damaging to democratic discourse.

Senior advocate Singhvi also questioned whether such language was befitting of someone holding a constitutional office and called upon Sarma to express regret.

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Responding to the criticism, Sarma said he needed no lessons on democracy, public conduct or decency from anyone, asserting that the matter was “only the beginning.”