Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed gets bail in controversial remarks case

GUWAHATI: A court here in Guwahati granted bail to Congress MLA from Assam's Baghbar constituency

Sherman Ali Ahmed

, who was arrested on October 2 on charges of making disrespectful remarks against the

martyrs of the Assam agitation

(1979-1985).

Ali got bail after the police failed to submit the chargesheet within 60 days. He is being released after two months.

Ali was slapped with charges of "provocation with intent to cause riot", "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion", "intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace" and "statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes".

In a video that had gone viral after the eviction drive at Dholpur in Assam's Darrang district in September, Ali was purportedly seen calling the martyrs of the anti-foreigners' movement as "ghataks" (assassins).

This had triggered massive reactions across the political and non-political spectrum. Following the video, several FIRs were lodged in different police stations in the state.