The Assam government has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Telangana High Court order that granted one-week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations made against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.
The petition, filed on Sunday, April 12, through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, is expected to come up for hearing this week.
On April 10, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera limited transit anticipatory bail, allowing him a week to approach the appropriate court while laying down specific conditions.
“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court is of the view that the petitioner has made out a case for grant of limited transit anticipatory bail, as his apprehension of arrest appears to be reasonable and supported by material on record,” the high court observed.
As part of the conditions, Khera was to be released on bail in the event of arrest upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with two sureties of the same amount, cooperate with the investigation, and remain available for interrogation as required. He was also barred from leaving the country without court permission.
Further conditions required him to approach the competent court in Assam within the stipulated time for appropriate relief and exercise restraint in making any public statements that could prejudice the investigation.
The case stems from remarks made by Khera on April 5, in which he alleged that the Assam Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held multiple passports and owned foreign property that were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s election affidavit ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.
An FIR was registered against Khera at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 175 (false statement in connection with an election), Section 35 (right of private defence of body and property), and Section 318 (cheating).
Khera, who approached the Telangana High Court on April 7, had listed his residential address as Hyderabad and sought protection from arrest in the event of coercive action.
With PTI inputs