The Supreme Court has restored bail for Arunachal Pradesh IAS officer Talo Potom in the high-profile abetment of suicide case involving 19-year-old Gomchu Yekar, setting aside the Gauhati High Court’s earlier order cancelling his bail.
On May 7, a bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar ruled that there were insufficient grounds to revoke the bail granted by the trial court. The apex court allowed Potom’s appeal after hearing arguments from the complainant’s side and directed that his bail conditions would continue.
While restoring the relief, the Supreme Court issued a clear warning to the IAS officer against any attempt to intimidate witnesses or influence the investigation. The bench cautioned that any verified complaint in this regard could result in immediate cancellation of bail. It also clarified that its observations or those made by the trial court should not influence the merits of the ongoing trial. The court refrained from making any comment on the alleged dying declaration to avoid prejudice to the case.
The incident dates back to October 23, 2025, when Gomchu Yekar was found dead at his rented accommodation in Lekhi village. According to police reports, the deceased left behind suicide notes accusing Potom and another government engineer of sexual assault, mental harassment, and exposing him to HIV/AIDS. Yekar had reportedly secured employment in the Public Works Department with Potom’s assistance.
Potom was arrested on October 27, 2025, and granted bail by the Sessions Court within a week. The deceased’s father then approached the Gauhati High Court, which cancelled the bail, citing that the trial court had overlooked critical evidence and that Potom’s influential position could hamper the probe. The High Court had also noted concerns over deleted WhatsApp chats and pending forensic examination of devices.
Challenging the High Court verdict, Potom moved the Supreme Court, which had previously stayed the cancellation and asked him to cooperate fully with the investigation.
This latest development brings a temporary relief to the IAS officer while the trial continues in the lower court. The case has drawn significant attention in Arunachal Pradesh due to the sensitive allegations and the position of the accused.
Tags: Arunachal Pradesh, Talo Potom, Gomchu Yekar, Supreme Court, Bail Restoration, IAS Officer, Abetment of Suicide, Gauhati High Court, Northeast India, Lekhi Village
Hashtags: #SupremeCourt #TaloPotom #ArunachalPradesh #GomchuYekar #IASOfficer #BailRestored #SuicideCase #NortheastNews #GauhatiHighCourt #Justice
