New Delhi: Assam legislator Akhil Gogoi on Thursday walked free after nearly 19 months in captivity as a special NIA court cleared him of all charges under UAPA for his alleged role in the violent anti-CAA stir in the state in December 2019. Gogoi, an Independent MLA from Sivasagar constituency, walked out of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he was being treated for various ailments, after the special NIA court sent the release order to the Guwahati Central Jail.

The Raijor Dal chief and his associates were accused in two cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged role in violent protests in Assam against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019. "Truth has finally prevailed, though no efforts were spared to keep me behind the bars," he told reporters after his release.