IYC chief granted protection from SC in Assam harassment case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim protection to Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president B V Srinivas from arrest in a case filed by an ousted woman leader of the party from Assam alleging mental torture.

Srinivas had challenged the Guwahati High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol has issued notice to the Assam government and others and sought their reply by July 10 in the matter.

“We have studied the (CrPC Section) 164 statement which has been very kindly placed before us by the prosecution. We do not want to say anything against the state at this stage.

“Considering the one-month delay in lodging the FIR, the petitioner is entitled to interim relief,” the bench said.

The apex court also directed Srinivas to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the police on May 22.
On May 5, the Guwahati High Court had rejected Srinivas’s anticipatory bail plea in a case filed by sacked Assam Youth Congress chief Angkita Dutta, alleging mental torture.

Dutta made these allegations against the IYC president in a series of tweets on April 18.