Pawan Khera Faces Setback as Guwahati High Court Denies Bail Request
Pawan Khera, a senior Congress leader, faced a significant setback as the Guwahati High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea linked to allegations made against Assam's Chief Minister and his wife. This ruling follows a previous dismissal by the Supreme Court, which advised Khera to seek relief from local courts. The BJP seized this opportunity to criticize Khera's claims, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated. The controversy began when Khera accused the Chief Minister and his wife of corruption, leading to a defamation complaint. The political landscape continues to heat up as both parties engage in a war of words.
| Apr 24, 2026, 11:20 IST
Court Ruling Against Pawan Khera
On Friday, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera encountered another setback when the Guwahati High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. This decision came in response to a complaint filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia issued the ruling after hearing arguments from both sides earlier this week.
Supreme Court's Previous Denial
This development follows the Supreme Court's dismissal of Khera's transit bail plea just days prior. The apex court advised him to seek relief from the lower courts in Assam, clarifying that neither it nor the Telangana High Court would interfere in the proceedings of the Assam court handling the case.
Political Repercussions
The Supreme Court's ruling has provided the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with an opportunity to criticize Congress further. The BJP claimed that this decision exposed Khera's "baseless and politically motivated" campaign against Sarma and his wife. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala stated in a video on X (formerly Twitter) that the documents Khera used were found to be fake, manipulated, and AI-generated, revealing the truth within just half an hour.
Background of the Case
The controversy began when Pawan Khera presented documents during a press conference that accused the Assam Chief Minister and his wife of corruption and business irregularities. In response, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma filed a complaint, labeling Khera's allegations as false and defamatory, asserting that the documents he used were fraudulent.
BJP's Strong Response
Following the High Court's decision, the BJP intensified its attacks on Congress. Poonawala reiterated that Khera's campaign was entirely "baseless and politically motivated," emphasizing that the documents presented were counterfeit, photoshopped, and AI-generated. The BJP claims this ruling exposes Congress's 'politics of lies.'