Pawan Khera's Transit Anticipatory Bail Challenged Before Supreme Court
Telangana High Court had granted Congress leader Pawan Khera one-week transit anticipatory bail in the Assam FIR case.
Khera was granted interim relief by the high court in the FIR over his claims on Assam CM’s wife’s foreign assets and multiple passports.
The anticipatory bail granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera for a period of one week in connection with an FIR registered in Assam over his allegations regarding multiple passports and foreign assets linked to the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been challenged before the Supreme Court.
Assam government has moved Supreme Court challenging the Telangana High Court's order from Friday granting interim relief to the Congress leader.
The relief, in the nature of transit anticipatory bail, was granted amid coercive action by Assam Police, which had conducted searches at his Delhi residence, and will allow Khera to approach the competent court for regular anticipatory bail.
The FIR in the matter is over Khera's statements at a press conference, where he alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, possessed multiple foreign passports and had undisclosed overseas assets.
An FIR was registered following a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma before the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station. Khera approached the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail, arguing that his family and residence are in Hyderabad.
The Guwahati Police registered the FIR invoking multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 175, 35, 36, 318, 337, 338, 340, 352 and 356 (corresponding to the Indian Penal Code Sections 171G, 97, 98, 415, 466, 467, 471, 504 and 499, respectively) which broadly deal with allegations of false statements linked to elections, cheating, different forms of forgery and use of forged documents, intentional insult, and defamation.
The bench of Justice K Sujana, during the hearing, was told by Khera’s counsel, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, that the allegations were politically motivated and did not disclose any cognizable offence. It was also submitted that he had not been provided a copy of the FIR and that custodial interrogation was not required, as the entire evidence in the case is digital.
Opposing the plea, the State submitted that the statements were defamatory and part of a deliberate attempt to spread false information, warranting investigation. The Advocate General of Assam, Devajit Saikia, also alleged that Khera is an established flight risk. The development comes amid ongoing efforts by Assam Police to trace the Congress leader. Teams had earlier visited his Delhi residence and later travelled to Hyderabad in connection with the investigation, coordinating with local authorities. Khera is a member of the Congress Working Committee and head of the party’s media and publicity department.