Guwahati High Court has turned down senior Congress leader Pawan Khera’s plea for anticipatory bail in a high-profile case initiated by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, over alleged multiple passports. The decision came on Friday from a single judge bench led by Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia, who had reserved judgment on April 21 after hearing detailed submissions.
This development intensifies the legal and political showdown between Congress and the Assam government. Khera’s counsel, including prominent lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, portrayed the FIR as a vendetta driven by political rivalry, particularly citing the CM’s public remarks. They emphasized no flight risk and questioned the gravity, suggesting it fits criminal defamation resolved via private channels.
Senior advocate Kamal Nayan Choudhary echoed these sentiments, calling the charges maliciously fabricated and unworthy of invoking harsh laws.
Assam AG Devajit Lon Saikia pushed back forcefully, framing the case as involving grave crimes beyond mere slander—fraud, forgery, and document manipulation—that demand custodial probe to uncover the truth.
Tracing back, Telangana HC’s brief bail on April 10 was stayed by the Supreme Court on April 15 following Assam Police’s appeal. The apex court refused interim protection and dismissed Khera’s review, directing unaffected lower court proceedings.
Registered at Guwahati Crime Branch under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for falsehoods, cheating, and more, the FIR follows Assam Police actions like searching Khera’s Delhi home and Hyderabad visits. At the heart: Khera’s public allegation of multiple passports held by the CM’s spouse, sparking this chain of events.
As the detailed order pends, the ruling underscores the judiciary’s stance on balancing political accusations with criminal accountability.
