New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) K.C. Venugopal, the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and a Member of Parliament, accused Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of participating in a clear witch-hunt against Congress leader Pawan Khera. This accusation follows Sarma's false allegations against another Congress figure, Gaurav Gogoi, and his spouse.

In statements to the press, Venugopal emphasized, “This is indeed a witch-hunt led by Himanta Biswa Sarma. He has made unequivocal false claims against Gaurav Gogoi and his wife. How often has he made such unfounded accusations? If these allegations had any validity prior to the elections, why hasn’t he provided any evidence?”

He further condemned the Assam Chief Minister for what he referred to as inconsistent statements.

“The individual who has leveled false accusations against Gaurav Gogoi and his family is now claiming that Pawan Khera is engaging in mischief. This is simply a blatant instance of witch-hunting,” he remarked.

Venugopal also expressed optimism regarding the Congress party's future in Kerala.

“We are set to emerge victorious in Kerala. We will establish the government in the state,” he confidently asserted.

On April 7, Assam Police initiated legal proceedings against Pawan Khera, including charges of forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy, related to comments aimed at Sarma’s family and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

Earlier that day, the Telangana High Court provided interim relief to Pawan Khera concerning the case brought against him by Assam Police.

The High Court granted Khera anticipatory bail for one week, allowing him to apply for regular bail in the appropriate court.

Justice K. Sujana, who had reserved the ruling on Khera’s petition on Thursday, delivered the verdict on Friday.

Khera sought the High Court’s assistance for transit anticipatory bail to facilitate his access to courts in Assam.

Representing Khera, Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed that the FIR filed by Assam Police was a product of political revenge.

Singhvi pointed out that the FIR was laden with multiple charges aimed at pressuring a political rival. He asserted that even if the statements made by the Congress leader were incorrect, the case amounted to defamation and did not warrant his arrest.

“Khera is not evading the law. He is willing to cooperate. He approached this court solely because he was in Hyderabad with his wife when he became aware of the FIR,” Singhvi explained.

On behalf of Assam Police, Advocate General of Assam, Devajit Saikia, contested the validity of the anticipatory bail request in Hyderabad. He argued that Khera, being a resident of Delhi, had not justified why he could not file the petition in Assam.

Assam Police have charged Khera in a case of alleged defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

The case against him was initiated after he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan possessed multiple foreign passports and undeclared assets abroad.

A team from Assam Police visited Khera’s residence in Delhi on Tuesday, but he was not present.

Law enforcement also erected barricades and enhanced security outside Khera’s and his wife Neelima's residence in Hyderabad.

The controversy ignited following Khera's press conference on Sunday, where he claimed that Riniki Sarma held three passports, undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the United States.