Telangana High Court Grants One-Week Anticipatory Bail to Congress Leader Pawan Khera Amid Assam Police Pursuit

This judicial relief follows a heated hearing where the court had reserved its order on Khera’s transit anticipatory bail plea. The proceedings were marked by intense arguments concerning alleged political vendetta, jurisdictional disputes, and the potential misuse of legal provisions. Khera, who serves as the head of the Congress's media and publicity department, sought intervention from the Telangana High Court by citing his residential address in Hyderabad. During the bail hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi defended Khera as a law-abiding citizen with no criminal antecedents, assuring the court of full cooperation with the ongoing investigation while characterizing the case as nothing short of harassment.

Advocate Singhvi questioned the severity of the police response, asking if society was living in the "wild west" where such complaints necessitate immediate arrest. He argued that every imaginable offense had been listed in the FIR simply because Khera held a press conference and made statements. The legal battle stems from remarks made by Khera during a press conference on April 5, where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held multiple passports and possessed foreign assets that were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s election affidavit. These allegations were categorically denied by the Sarma family, who described the claims as false, fabricated, and malicious.

In response to a complaint filed by the Chief Minister’s wife, the Assam Police registered a case at the Guwahati Crime Branch under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to cheating and making false statements in connection with elections. An Assam Police team previously visited Khera’s Delhi residence for questioning; however, he was not present. Officials stated that a search was conducted and "incriminating" material was recovered from the premises.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has since criticized the Congress party for failing to verify documents before making public allegations. Accusing Khera of fleeing to Hyderabad, the Chief Minister asserted that the Assam Police would pursue the case relentlessly, stating that they would drag him out even from the depths of the netherworld. He questioned Khera’s whereabouts, noting that while the leader had previously challenged authorities to arrest him, he had allegedly run away once police reached his home. This high-profile legal standoff highlights the intensifying friction between the Congress leadership and the Assam state administration, setting the stage for a critical jurisdictional battle in the coming week.