Telangana High Court Grants Pawan Khera Temporary Bail in Passport Case

Relief for Congress Leader Pawan Khera

On Friday, the Telangana High Court provided relief to Congress leader Pawan Khera by granting him a week's anticipatory bail in a case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. She is accused of holding multiple passports. Justice K. Sujana issued this order after hearing Khera's petition the previous day. According to reports, the court has allowed the petitioner (Khera) a week to file an application in the relevant court.

Background of the Case

The case against Khera was registered by Assam police after he alleged that Bhuyan possessed several passports and undeclared assets abroad. Earlier this week, Assam police conducted a search at his residence in Delhi, prompting Khera to approach the Telangana High Court. Representing Khera, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi argued that the case stemmed from political vendetta by the Assam government. However, Assam's Advocate General Devjit Saikia refuted this claim, stating that Khera's petition was not maintainable in the Telangana High Court, although Khera provided his residential address in Hyderabad.

Arguments Presented in Court

Singhvi contended in court that Khera is well-rooted in society and a significant political figure. He emphasized that we do not live in an era of constitutional arbitrariness, nor should armed forces be dispatched from Assam to arrest Khera in Nizamuddin, especially when the complaint involves defamation. In response, Saikia asserted that Assam is not a democratic republic and that law and order are upheld in the northeastern state. He further claimed that Khera's life is not in danger in Assam and that the allegations made against the Chief Minister's wife are entirely baseless.