Pawan Khera appears before Assam Crime Branch in Riniki Sharma defamation case
Synopsis
Congress Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera walked into the Assam Police Crime Branch in Guwahati on 23 July — his latest appearance in a defamation case filed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife over allegations about her citizenship and foreign financial interests. With an 11-hour interrogation already on record and the Supreme Court's interim arrest protection still active, the case is shaping up as one of the most legally complex political defamation battles of the year.
Key Takeaways
Pawan Khera appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch in Guwahati on 23 July in response to a summons.
The defamation case was filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma , wife of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma , over statements Khera made at a press conference and on social media.
Khera had missed an earlier appearance on 17 July , citing attendance at the Congress 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Bengaluru .
The Supreme Court has granted Khera interim protection from arrest while directing full cooperation with the probe.
The Gauhati High Court had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail plea, noting custodial interrogation may be necessary.
Khera had previously undergone a more than 11-hour interrogation at the Crime Branch office in May .
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera on Thursday, 23 July appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch in Guwahati, complying with a summons in a defamation case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera travelled from New Delhi to the Crime Branch headquarters, marking his latest appearance in a case that has wound through multiple courts over several months.
What Khera Said
Speaking to reporters outside the Crime Branch office before entering, Khera said he was cooperating fully with the investigation. 'I have appeared before the Crime Branch in response to the notice issued to me. Earlier, I had informed the investigating agency that I was unwell and also had pre-scheduled party programmes. They accepted my request,' he said.
His appearance on Thursday came after he had sought exemption from earlier scheduled dates, citing health issues and prior political commitments. The Crime Branch had most recently directed him to appear on 17 July after he missed earlier hearings. According to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Khera was at the party's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Bengaluru on that date, where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was also scheduled to participate.
Origins of the Case
The defamation case stems from a complaint lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station over statements Khera allegedly made during a press conference and on social media. Sharma alleged that Khera made defamatory and false allegations concerning her citizenship status, foreign passports, and financial interests abroad.
Based on the complaint, Assam Police registered an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections relating to cheating, forgery, using forged documents as genuine, making false statements, intentional insult, and defamation.
Legal Proceedings So Far
The case has seen extensive legal activity across several courts. Khera initially approached the Telangana High Court, which granted him transit anticipatory bail. The Supreme Court subsequently stayed that order while clarifying that any plea before a competent court in Assam would be decided independently. The apex court later granted Khera interim protection from arrest, directing him to cooperate fully with the probe.
The Gauhati High Court had earlier declined his anticipatory bail plea, observing that the allegations went beyond a simple defamation dispute and that custodial interrogation could be necessary to verify the source and authenticity of documents relied upon by Khera. Notably, in May, Khera underwent a marathon interrogation lasting more than 11 hours at the same Crime Branch office.
What Happens Next
The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation and is expected to examine material submitted by Khera during the course of the probe. With the Supreme Court's interim protection from arrest still in place, investigators will need to proceed within those legal constraints. The case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing political friction between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Assam government.
Point of View
Spanning forgery and cheating alongside defamation, suggests investigators are casting a wide net; the Gauhati High Court's observation that custodial interrogation may be warranted adds legal weight to what could otherwise be dismissed as political theatre. With the Supreme Court holding the line on arrest protection, the real contest is now in the evidentiary phase — whether the Crime Branch can substantiate the document-authenticity questions that the High Court flagged. The outcome will set a precedent for how far state police agencies can pursue opposition politicians on speech-related complaints.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Pawan Khera been summoned by the Assam Police Crime Branch?
Khera has been summoned in connection with a defamation case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sharma alleged that Khera made false and defamatory statements about her citizenship status, foreign passports, and financial interests abroad during a press conference and on social media.
What legal protection does Pawan Khera currently have in this case?
The Supreme Court has granted Khera interim protection from arrest while directing him to cooperate fully with the investigation. The Gauhati High Court had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail plea, and the Supreme Court also stayed a transit anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court.
What charges have been filed against Pawan Khera in the Assam case?
Assam Police registered an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to cheating, forgery, using forged documents as genuine, making false statements, intentional insult, and defamation.
Has Pawan Khera been questioned by the Crime Branch before?
Yes. In May, Khera underwent a marathon interrogation lasting more than 11 hours at the Crime Branch office in Guwahati. He has appeared before investigators on multiple occasions during the course of the probe.
Why did Khera miss his earlier Crime Branch appearance on 17 July?
According to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Khera was attending the Congress party's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Bengaluru on 17 July, where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was also scheduled to participate. He had cited health issues and prior political commitments for missing earlier dates as well.
