Telangana High Court has granted senior Congress leader Pawan Khera a one-week anticipatory bail in connection with a case filed against him in Assam regarding his accusations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Justice K Sujana’s bench allowed Khera time to seek anticipatory bail within a week, emphasizing his prompt court action and status as a prominent figure. The court dismissed the plea for additional time from Khera’s counsel.
“The petitioner (Khera) has been given one week to submit an application to the relevant court,” stated Justice K Sujana in the ruling. This decision followed a heated hearing where arguments revolved around political motives, jurisdiction, and misuse of legal provisions.
Khera, who leads the Congress’s media department, approached the Telangana High Court, citing his Hyderabad address. During the bail hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi highlighted Khera’s clean record and commitment to cooperating with the investigation. Singhvi labeled the case as mere ‘harassment’.
Singhvi questioned the necessity of arrest for allegations made during a press conference where Khera accused Riniki Bhuyan Sarma of holding undisclosed foreign assets and multiple passports. The Sarma family vehemently denied these allegations. Assam Police, acting on a complaint by the Chief Minister’s wife, filed a case against Khera under various legal provisions related to false statements and cheating.
Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized the Congress for not verifying documents before leveling accusations and vowed to pursue the case rigorously. Sarma expressed surprise at Khera’s absence during the police visit to his Delhi residence, claiming that Khera had fled to Hyderabad. Sarma asserted the Assam Police’s determination to pursue Khera, stating, “We will track him down relentlessly, no matter where he hides.”