The Gauhati High Court has today dismissed Congress leader Pawan Khera’s plea for anticipatory bail in a case registered by the Assam Police’s Crime Branch in Guwahati.
Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia had reserved orders on April 21 and pronounced the decision today, rejecting the bail.
The Legal proceedings have been initiated against Khera following an FIR alleging conspiracy, forgery, and defamatory statements. It stems from his recent claims that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan, possesses multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas assets.
Assam Police had earlier visited Khera’s Delhi residence on April 7, but he was not present. He subsequently approached the Telangana High Court, which on April 10 granted him one week’s transit anticipatory bail to enable him to seek relief before courts in Assam.
However, on April 15, the Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order in an appeal filed by the Assam government. Khera challenged this ex-parte stay and sought an extension of transit protection, but the apex court declined both requests, directing him instead to approach the Gauhati High Court.
Before the High Court, Khera argued that the allegations arose from statements made during a press conference in a public and political context, which were selectively interpreted to initiate criminal proceedings. He contended that the FIR was driven by political vendetta and constituted an abuse of legal process, aimed at harassment and intimidation at the instance of the complainant, who is the Chief Minister’s wife.
Khera further submitted that his remarks were framed in an interrogatory manner and that he had no role in the alleged fabrication of passports or property documents.