GUWAHATI: Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, has accused the Assam government of targeting party spokesperson Reetam Singh, a day after the Gauhati High Court granted him interim bail.
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Singh was arrested nearly two weeks ago over a controversial social media post, a move the Congress has denounced as an attempt to silence opposition voices.
Ramesh took to X, stating that the court found Singh’s arrest to be "riddled with procedural errors," exposing what he described as the "haste and illegality" of the state’s actions. "Reetam was targeted by the State of Assam for his social media posts but now stands released from custody," he said.
Singh was detained by the Assam Police on March 15 based on a complaint about a post he made on X. The controversy began on March 13, when Singh took to X to question the legal accountability of several BJP leaders, including Assam BJP president Manav Deka. His post referenced a recent news report about the conviction of three men in a 2021 rape case in Dhemaji district. Singh directly named Manav Deka, former Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, and ex-Union minister Rajen Gohain, insinuating that they had faced similar allegations in the past and questioning whether the law was truly equal for all.
The post, which tagged the official handle of BJP Assam, triggered an immediate reaction. Within two days, Singh found himself in legal trouble after Manav Deka’s wife, Raajashree Deka, filed a complaint at the North Lakhimpur Police Station. She accused Singh of defamation and also invoked the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging that his remarks insulted her family, including her late father, and indirectly targeted her identity as a Scheduled Caste woman. Additionally, she cited Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and described Singh as a “habitual offender” with a history of legal troubles over his social media activity.
His arrest triggered a war of words between the Congress and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, with the opposition party accusing the ruling BJP of using law enforcement to intimidate political opponents.
In his statement, Ramesh thanked Senior Advocate KN Choudhary and his legal team for securing Singh’s release. "The AICC Legal Department, led by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has been fighting for our party workers, members, and spokespersons. We will not rest in this fight for democracy and will ensure that the ruling regime is held accountable for violating fundamental rights," he wrote.
The Gauhati High Court, in its order, acknowledged that Singh had presented a strong case for bail. While granting interim relief, the court stated that "the ends of justice do not justify curtailing the liberty of the petitioner in the given facts of the case." However, the court deemed it necessary to examine the Case Diary before passing a final order.
As per the bail conditions, Singh has been directed to furnish a bond of Rs. 50,000 with a surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the Special Judge, Lakhimpur. Additionally, he must fully cooperate with the investigation and appear before the Investigating Officer as required. The court also prohibited him from making any inducements or threats that could influence the case.
The Congress has vowed to stand by Singh, reiterating its commitment to fighting for free speech and democracy. "We will continue to raise our voices for the common man, no matter the challenges posed by the ruling regime," Ramesh asserted.
