Telangana High Court Grants Temporary Bail to Congress Leader Pawan Khera

Legal Relief for Pawan Khera

Guwahati, April 10: The Telangana High Court has provided a temporary legal reprieve to Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera by granting him a one-week transit anticipatory bail. This decision comes in light of a case initiated by Assam Police concerning allegations made against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

During the hearing, Justice Sujana Kalasikam allowed Khera a week to file a regular anticipatory bail application in the appropriate court.

“The petitioner is granted time for one week to file an application before the concerned court. Granting relief to the petitioner for one week with the conditions,” the court stated.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera, argued that the FIR filed by Assam Police was politically motivated.

Singhvi claimed that the FIR was filled with numerous charges aimed at pressuring a political rival.

He contended that even if Khera's statements were incorrect, the matter should be treated as defamation, and there was no justification for his arrest.

“Khera is not evading the law. He is willing to cooperate. He approached this court because he was in Hyderabad with his wife when he became aware of the FIR,” Singhvi explained.

On behalf of Assam Police, Advocate General Devajit Saikia questioned the validity of the anticipatory bail petition in Hyderabad.

He argued that Khera, who resides in Delhi, had not provided a valid reason for not filing the petition in Assam.

In defense of the police's actions, Chief Minister Sarma stated that law enforcement was simply fulfilling its responsibilities.

“We have tasked the police with pursuing Khera. Who else should we assign this duty to? It is not the ULFA pursuing him; it is the police. If there is an FIR, it is the police's duty to act,” Sarma remarked to the media after the Assembly elections concluded.

Supporting the police's actions, Sarma added, “The police are bound by the law, and they are going to the residence of an individual named in a case, which is entirely legal. The police are compensated to address such matters.”

The controversy arose from Khera's claims on April 5, where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held multiple passports and owned overseas properties that were not disclosed in the chief minister’s election affidavit.

A case against Khera was filed at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to false statements in elections and cheating.

Following these allegations, an Assam Police team had visited Khera’s residence in Delhi earlier this week for questioning but was unable to locate him.

Earlier this week, the chief minister criticized the Congress party for allegedly not verifying documents before making accusations against him and his family.

Claiming that Khera had “fled” to Hyderabad, Sarma stated, “He has run away to Hyderabad, but Assam Police will track him down even from ‘pataal’ (the underworld).”