Itanagar: The District and Sessions Court in Yupia has granted bail to IAS officer Talo Potom in connection with an alleged abetment of suicide case, citing a lack of sufficient prima facie evidence to warrant further detention.
The court approved his release on a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh.
Potom, who previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR), had been in judicial custody since his voluntary surrender on October 27. He was earlier remanded to 14 days of custody and lodged at the Jullang District Central Jail.
The case arises from the alleged suicide of a man named Yekar, who is said to have left a note accusing Talo Potom and Executive Engineer Lowang of sexual exploitation and mental harassment, alleging that their actions pushed him to end his life.
Police at Nirjuli Station registered a case on October 25 under Sections 108, 271, 272, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, naming Potom as the prime accused.
In its bail order, the court observed that the prosecution had failed to produce any direct or circumstantial evidence linking Potom to the alleged offence. The judge underscored that “mere allegations or assumptions cannot serve as a substitute for evidence while considering a bail plea.”
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Meanwhile, claims that Potom was HIV-positive have been refuted. A medical test conducted on October 24, 2025, at DJ Drugs & Diagnostic Laboratory, Bage Tinali, Nirjuli, confirmed that the officer tested negative for HIV.
