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The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case filed by the Assam Police. The bench passed its verdict on a petition challenging an April 24 Gauhati High Court order denying him anticipatory bail.

The Supreme Court held that the High Court’s observations were “erroneous” as they had shifted “the burden on the accused”. It also remarked that the allegations and counter-allegations in the matter appeared to be politically motivated, and did not constitute a situation that would warrant custodial interrogation.

Khera has been accused of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for claiming that she holds passports of multiple countries. Read on.

The Calcutta High Court dismissed the Trinamool Congress’ petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision to deploy Union government employees as counting supervisors during the West Bengal Assembly election results. The votes will be counted on Monday.

On Wednesday, the state chief electoral officer directed that at least one person at every counting station must be a Union government employee. The state’s ruling Trinamool Congress had moved the court against the order.

The bench rejected the claim that Union government employees are likely to be susceptible to the suggestion and control of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power at the Centre. Read on.

An above-normal number of heatwave days is likely in May, the India Meteorological Department said. The agency said that heatwaves are likely in parts of the Himalayan foothills, states along the eastern coast, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Minimum temperatures are expected to be above normal in many parts of the country, the weather agency said in its monthly forecast. This came as India continues to experience higher-than-average temperatures that are pushing energy demand to ​a record high. Read on.

The Congress criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his visit to Ladakh, accusing him of ignoring residents’ demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The home minister arrived in Ladakh on Thursday for a two-day visit to view the holy relics of Lord Buddha.

This marks his first visit to the Union Territory since protests erupted in September, in which four protesters were killed in police firing. The absence of a legislature in Ladakh has stoked fears among the Ladakhi people about control of their land, natural resources and livelihoods. They also fear the region’s cultural identity and fragile ecosystem are in danger. Read on.

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