Pawan Khera Seeks Anticipatory Bail from Gauhati High Court Amid Defamation Allegations
Synopsis
Congress leader Pawan Khera has filed for anticipatory bail at the Gauhati High Court following defamation allegations against Assam's Chief Minister's wife. This development comes after the Supreme Court denied him protection from arrest, prompting Khera to seek legal refuge in the high court.
Key Takeaways
Pawan Khera filed for anticipatory bail in Gauhati High Court .
The case involves allegations against the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma .
The Supreme Court previously denied Khera protection from arrest.
Khera's statements have led to an FIR that includes charges of defamation .
Legal representation is provided by Abhishek Manu Singhvi .
Guwahati/New Delhi, April 20 (NationPress) On Monday, Congress leader Pawan Khera approached the Gauhati High Court to request anticipatory bail linked to an FIR filed in Assam regarding his purportedly defamatory comments about the spouse of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The status of the case, as per the information on the Gauhati High Court's website, indicates that Khera's petition was submitted on April 20 and was registered earlier for consideration by an appropriate Bench.
This move follows a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which denied Khera's request for protection from arrest and did not extend his temporary anticipatory bail.
In an order dated April 17, a Bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar specified that Khera was “free to approach the relevant court” in Assam, ensuring that any application would not be negatively impacted by the earlier decision regarding his transit bail from the Telangana High Court.
The Supreme Court clarified that the appropriate court would evaluate the anticipatory bail plea based on its own merits and the evidence available.
Prior to this, on April 15, the Supreme Court had put a hold on the Telangana High Court’s decision that had granted Khera transit anticipatory bail, stating that the application seemed to rely on “fabricated documents” to establish jurisdiction.
As a result, the interim protection from arrest was lifted.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera, had requested the Supreme Court to prolong his protection, arguing that the previous order was granted ex parte and that the Telangana High Court had permitted him one week to approach the designated forum.
However, this subsequent request was denied.
The case originated from an FIR filed by the Assam Police under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which includes accusations of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy stemming from Khera's statements against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
Khera alleged that Sarma held several foreign passports, undeclared luxury assets in Dubai, and shell companies in the United States.
Point of View
The implications of defamation allegations against a prominent political figure highlight the intersection of law and politics in India.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reason behind Pawan Khera's anticipatory bail request?
Pawan Khera is seeking anticipatory bail due to an FIR filed in Assam over alleged defamatory remarks about the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
What did the Supreme Court decide regarding Khera's bail?
The Supreme Court denied Khera protection from arrest and did not extend his transit anticipatory bail, allowing him to apply directly in Assam.
What charges are included in the FIR against Khera?
The FIR includes charges of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Who is representing Khera in court?
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Pawan Khera in the legal proceedings.
What allegations did Khera make against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma?
Khera alleged that Sarma has multiple foreign passports, undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the U.S.
