In a high-stakes political and legal clash, the Congress party has announced plans to appeal the Gauhati High Court’s rejection of anticipatory bail for its key spokesperson, Pawan Khera. The decision, delivered on April 24, relates to an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuiyan, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after Khera alleged she possessed multiple passports.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, took to X to affirm the party’s stance: ‘The Indian National Congress stands in complete solidarity with its Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera. We are challenging the Gauhati High Court decision in the Supreme Court. Faith in justice triumphing over threats, bullying, and persecution politics remains unshaken.’
Delving into the hearing details, Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia’s bench reserved judgment on April 21 after hearing exhaustive arguments. Khera’s advocates, led by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, portrayed the FIR as retaliation for political barbs from the CM. They stressed the absence of any absconding risk, deemed custody unnecessary, and confined the charges to defamation territory.
Kamal Nayan Choudhary reinforced this, calling accusations ‘insulting’ and maliciously fabricated, unsuitable for invoking harsh penalties and better suited for civil remedies. Assam’s AG Devajit Lon Saikia pushed back hard, framing the case as involving grave crimes like cheating and falsification, with alleged manipulations of documents and titles necessitating arrest and interrogation.
The procedural journey adds layers: Telangana HC’s brief bail on April 10 was stayed by the Supreme Court on April 15 following Assam’s appeal, and subsequent pleas for relief were rebuffed.
This episode underscores escalating tensions between Congress and the Assam government, with the Supreme Court appeal poised to test boundaries of free speech, political accusations, and legal protections. As polls loom, every move carries weight.
