Fri Mar 28 18:12:58 UTC 2025: ## Assam Journalist Granted Bail After Re-Arrest in Second Case
**Guwahati, Assam –** Assam journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, Chief Reporter of the digital portal ‘The Crosscurrent,’ was granted bail on Friday after being re-arrested in a second case just hours after his release on bail in a first. The initial arrest followed his reporting on alleged financial irregularities at the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Limited.
Mozumder was first arrested on Tuesday night under charges of criminal intimidation and violating the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stemming from his questioning of the bank’s managing director during a protest. He was granted bail on Thursday, but before release, police rearrested him on a second charge, filed by the bank’s managing director, alleging attempted theft of bank documents, criminal trespass, intimidation, and causing hurt.
The second case alleges Mozumder disturbed bank operations, threatened employees, and made casteist remarks. Police searched his home twice, seizing documents.
While granted bail in the second case with a surety of Rs 20,000, Mozumder remained in judicial custody overnight due to procedural delays. His lawyers will complete the bail formalities on Saturday.
The Gauhati Press Club (GPC), the Press Club of India (PCI), the Assam Women Journalists’ Forum (AWJF), and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) have strongly condemned Mozumder’s arrest and re-arrest, citing concerns about press freedom and potential attempts to suppress investigative journalism. The GPC announced protests, with journalists wearing black badges from Friday to Sunday. The PCI expressed shock and concern over the infringement of press freedom, while the AWJF raised concerns about a narrative used to undermine journalists critical of the government. The DUJ condemned the “vindictive” actions against Mozumder.
First Piper 