The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a defamation and forgery case filed by the Assam Police.
A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar overturned the Gauhati High Court’s earlier decision denying him anticipatory bail, observing that the case appeared to stem from political rivalry and that Khera’s personal liberty deserved protection.
The controversy began on April 5, when Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple passports and foreign assets that were not disclosed in the election affidavit of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The case, which includes allegations of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, was registered after Khera alleged during a recent press conference that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan, possesses multiple foreign passports and has undisclosed assets overseas.
Assam Police had visited Khera’s residence in Delhi on April 7 but he was not present there. Congress leader was later approached the Telangana High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail.
The Telangana High Court granted him a week's relief on April 10 to enable him approach the courts in Assam for anticipatory bail. On April 15, the Supreme Court stayed Telangana High Court's April 10 order on an appeal moved by Assam government.
Subsequently, on April 17, the top court refused to extend the transit bail period. It asked Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court instead. Khera then moved the Gauhati High Court.
In his petition before the Gauhati High Court, Khera argued that the allegations against him arise out of statements made in a public and political context during a press conference. He said that the same were "selectively construed" to initiate the criminal proceedings.
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Khera added that the FIR was registered to "satisfy ulterior motive/political vendetta of the complainant", who is the wife of the Assam Chief Minister.