Gauhati High Court overturns Arunachal IAS officer’s bail in teen suicide case

GUWAHATI

The Gauhati High Court set aside the lower court order granting bail to Arunachal Pradesh IAS officer Talo Potom, whose name was mentioned in the suicide notes of a 19-year-old youth in 2025.

Mr. Potom, who is the Special Secretary (PWD) to the Government of Delhi, was released within a week of his arrest.

Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer of the Itanagar Bench of the High Court on Wednesday, January 22, 2026, ordered the immediate custody of Potom, who faces the charge of abetting suicide. The bench criticized the Yupia District and Sessions Court for granting bail “without proper exercise of reason”.

The victim’s father approached the Supreme Court under Article 483(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for cancellation of bail.

The case arose from an FIR filed by the man after his son was found dead in the accommodation he had rented in Papum Pare district on October 23, 2025. In the notes left behind, the deceased accused Mr. Potom and senior engineer Likwang Lowang of sexually abusing and harassing her over a long period of time.

The notes mentioned that “prolonged humiliation, pressure and threats” pushed him to take the extreme step. Accusations against officials included incitement to suicide, sexual abuse, mental abuse and corruption. Hours after the FIR was lodged, Lowang, who worked in the State’s Rural Affairs Department, shot himself.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court said the court ignored important documents and noted findings contrary to established legal principles on bail. The court panel emphasized that the crime “shook the collective conscience of society”; this was a factor the lower court did not consider.

The HC Bench stated that cancellation of bail should not be a routine procedure, but it may be allowed if the decision is unjustified, perverse or ignores material facts. The statement added that although there was a prima facie case, the release of an influential officer like Potom at the early stage of the investigation may have derailed the investigation.

(Arunachal Pradesh suicide prevention helpline numbers: 14416, 1800-89-14416)