The Supreme Court on Monday clubbed the three separate FIRs filed against Congress leader Pawan Khera in Uttar Pradesh and Assam for his controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and transferred the matter to Hazratganj police station in Lucknow.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also extended Khera’s interim bail to April 10. The bench, which included Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, said as the first FIR was registered in Lucknow, the subsequent two FIRs on the same matter ought to be clubbed and tried together at Lucknow.

“The first FIR was registered at PS Hazratganj, Lucknow. We order and direct that the subsequent FIRs registered at PS Cantt, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and at PS Haflong, Dima Hasao, Assam, shall stand transferred to PS Hazratganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

“The ad-interim order, which was passed by this court on February 23, 2023 (extended by the orders dated February 27, 2023 and March 3, 2023) shall stand extended till April 10, 2023. The petitioner would be at liberty to apply for regular bail before the jurisdictional court. All the contentions of the parties are left open to be urged before the jurisdictional court,” the bench said.

The bench disagreed with solicitor-general Tushar Mehta’s argument that Khera neither tendered an apology nor showed any remorse.

Only senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, who had appeared for Khera during the earlier hearing, had submitted an unconditional apology, the solicitor-general said while seeking a transfer of the cases to Assam.