No relief for Pawan Khera; Gauhati HC rejects anticipatory bail in FIR over allegations against CM’s wife

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday failed to secure relief from the Gauhati High Court, which rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case linked to alleged remarks against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The order comes after the Supreme Court of India had earlier declined to extend protection from arrest, pushing Khera to seek relief from courts in Assam. With Friday’s ruling, the Congress leader now faces a tightening legal situation as the case moves forward.

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Court rejects plea after hearing both sides

The matter was heard by a single-judge Bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia, which had reserved its verdict on Tuesday after detailed arguments from both sides.

Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, along with advocate Kamal Narayan Choudhury, argued that the case was politically motivated and amounted to vendetta. It was also submitted that the allegations lacked merit and were intended to silence a political opponent.

Opposing the plea, Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia told the court that the case involved serious offences, including forgery and cheating. He said the investigation had revealed prima facie material suggesting deliberate wrongdoing, and argued that custodial interrogation was necessary.

Supreme Court had earlier refused relief

Khera moved the Gauhati High Court after the Supreme Court declined to extend his transit anticipatory bail.

A Bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar, in its April 17 order, said Khera was “at liberty to apply immediately before the Court concerned” in Assam and clarified that any such plea “shall not be adversely influenced” by its earlier order.

The apex court had also said the competent court should decide the anticipatory bail application on its own merits and based on the material placed before it.

Earlier, on April 15, the Supreme Court had stayed the Telangana High Court’s order granting Khera interim protection, observing that the plea appeared to rely on “fabricated documents” to invoke jurisdiction. The interim protection from arrest was subsequently vacated.

FIR and allegations against Khera

The case stems from an FIR registered by Assam Police under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

Khera had alleged that Riniki Sarma possessed multiple foreign passports, undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the United States.

The Sarma family has denied these claims, calling the documents “AI-generated fabrications” circulated by Pakistani social media groups.

BJP sharpens attack after court order

Reacting to the development, Assam Minister and BJP leader Pijush Hazarika welcomed the court’s decision and launched a sharp attack on the Congress leader.

“Grateful that Hon’ble Gauhati HC has denied bail to criminal Pawan Khera. Remember, he forged land deeds and faked passports just to manipulate an election outcome and also compromise India’s relations with other sovereign nations,” Hazarika said.

He also raised a series of questions, asking who else may have been involved in the alleged conspiracy.

“Who were his co-conspirators? Was fugitive Khera the mastermind or a mere front for someone’s dirty game? Who financed this nefarious operation and what other documents did they forge? Were there international actors from across the border in this illegal enterprise?” he said.

The minister further claimed that the accused had been engaging through intermediaries and asserted that “he and each of his co conspirators will face the wrath of law,” adding that Assam Police operates under the rule of law.

Earlier, Himanta Biswa Sarma had said Khera should submit himself to the legal process.

“I think Pawan Khera should surrender before the law. He should come to Guwahati and surrender there,” he told ANI.