Supreme Court Hears Pawan Khera's Bail Plea Amid Serious Allegations
The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on the anticipatory bail plea of Congress leader Pawan Khera, who faces serious allegations from Assam police regarding forgery and tampering with a passport. The court has reserved its judgment after a heated debate, with Khera's legal team arguing against the charges and the necessity of his arrest. The case has garnered significant attention, especially given the political implications surrounding the accusations. As the situation unfolds, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for Khera and the Congress party.
| Apr 30, 2026, 13:55 IST
Intense Debate in Supreme Court Over Bail Application
The Supreme Court engaged in a heated discussion on Thursday regarding the anticipatory bail plea of Congress leader Pawan Khera. The Assam police strongly opposed Khera's request, accusing him of serious offenses related to "tampering and forgery" involving the passport of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.S. Chandurkar reserved its decision.
The police asserted that Khera's actions constituted a non-bailable offense and warranted an investigation into how he allegedly forged documents.
Allegations Presented by Assam Police
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam police, informed the court that Khera made these allegations against Sarma's wife during the assembly elections. He claimed that Khera displayed images of Rinki and presented fake passports; investigations revealed that the documents in Khera's possession were indeed counterfeit.
Mehta further stated that Khera has been evading arrest since the date of the alleged crime, despite releasing videos indicating his awareness of the FIR (First Information Report). He emphasized the need to determine how Khera forged the documents, identify his accomplices, and ascertain who created the passport stamp.
According to 'Bar and Bench', Mehta remarked, "We need to demonstrate how he removed a person's photo from the passport and replaced it with that of another woman, along with QR codes and stamps. This could lead to the discovery of many more forged documents."
Khera Responds to Assam Police's Claims
During the hearing, Khera argued that there was no need to "humiliate" him by detaining and arresting him; he maintained that the allegations against him should be addressed in court. The senior Congress leader also informed the Supreme Court that several charges filed against him are bailable, while others do not necessitate his arrest.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Khera, added that if anticipatory bail is not granted, the purpose of seeking bail before arrest becomes moot. Singhvi also alleged that the Chief Minister is pressuring the Assam police to arrest Khera. "He claims that Khera has not convincingly proven that he possesses multiple passports. The judge (High Court) views anticipatory bail as a privilege. It is a right. Your Lordships are considering anticipatory bail. This should be viewed in context," Bar and Bench quoted Singhvi.
Supreme Court Reserves Judgment
The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on Khera's plea. He is challenging the Guwahati High Court's order from April 24, which denied him anticipatory bail. Notably, the case is being heard by a bench of two judges, Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice A.S. Chandurkar.
Previously, the Telangana High Court granted Khera a seven-day transit anticipatory bail, but the Assam police approached the Supreme Court against this decision. The apex court issued an interim order to stay the transit anticipatory bail and directed Khera to approach the Guwahati High Court.