Assam FIR case: Anticipatory bail granted by SC to Pawan Khera
text_fields
The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera in a case filed by Assam Police over allegations concerning the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The order came a day after a bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar had reserved its decision on Khera’s plea. The case is based on Khera’s claims that the chief minister’s wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed assets abroad, Siasat Daily reported.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Khera, argued that the allegations should be examined during trial and that arresting his client would be unwarranted and humiliating.
He reportedly submitted that many of the charges were bailable, while others did not require custodial interrogation, adding that denying anticipatory bail would undermine its purpose.
Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, contended that Khera had circulated fabricated and doctored passport documents of the chief minister’s wife. He further alleged that Khera had been evading authorities while continuing to publish videos, and maintained that the accusations regarding multiple citizenships were baseless.
The case originated from complaints filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma at the Guwahati Crime Branch under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, naming Khera and others.
Earlier, Khera had challenged an April 24 order of the Gauhati High Court that denied him anticipatory bail. Before that, the Telangana High Court had granted him a seven-day transit anticipatory bail.
However, Assam Police moved the Supreme Court against that relief, following which the apex court stayed the transit bail and directed Khera to seek appropriate relief from the Gauhati High Court.