Guwahati:
Congress legislator of Gujarat, Jignesh Mevani, who had been arrested for “outraging the modesty” of a woman police sub-inspector (SI) while he was being escorted from Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati to Kokrajhar police station on April 21, was granted bail by the court of the District and Session Judge of Barpeta, on April 29.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya told The Meghalayan that the court of District and Session Judge Aparesh Chakravorty granted Mevani bail against a personal bond of Rs 1000, and after asking the Barpeta Police to produce the case diary.
“After examining the case diary, the court granted him bail,” Bhattacharyya said.
Mevani had been rearrested and brought to Barpeta Road on April 25 in connection with case No 81/22 under Section 294/323/353/354 of IPC based on a complaint lodged by SI Debika Brahma of Kokrajhar Police Station and had been on five-day police remand.
“We have moved a bail petition in the court of the District and Session Judge today. After hearing the argument of both sides, the court asked for the case diary,” said Mevani’s advocate Kankan Das.
“Defence was submitted that for what reason the state administration has engaged a woman SI for escorting a male person who was arrested from outside the state. Moreover, the police refused to provide him with the FIR copy while bringing him to Barpeta Road from Kokrajhar jail,” Das added.
The special public prosecutor (PP) Makhan Phukan appeared for the government side at Thursday’s hearing.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders and workers had staged a sit-in against the arrest of Mevani during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state on April 28.