The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday stayed the order of the Telangana High Court that had granted one-week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with a case registered in Assam. The decision came after the Government of Assam challenged the high court’s order, arguing that the relief granted to Khera was legally questionable.
A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar issued notice to Khera and other respondents while hearing the plea filed by the Assam government. The court also ordered that the operation of the Telangana High Court’s order granting transit anticipatory bail would remain stayed until further consideration. The matter has now been listed for hearing after three weeks.
Appearing for the Assam government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that Khera approaching the Telangana High Court for relief in a case registered in Assam amounted to a “complete abuse of process.” He also argued that it reflected “forum choosing,” suggesting that the Congress leader deliberately approached a court outside the jurisdiction where the case was filed.
Earlier, on April 10, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera one-week transit anticipatory bail with certain conditions. The court had allowed him a week’s time to approach the appropriate court in Assam for further legal protection in the case.
The controversy began after Khera made allegations during a press conference on April 5 regarding the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera claimed that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held multiple passports and owned foreign property that were allegedly not disclosed in the chief minister’s election affidavit for the Assembly polls.
Both Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as false and fabricated. Following the remarks, a case was registered against Khera at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.
According to officials, the case has been filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 175 for making false statements in connection with an election and Section 318 related to cheating. Investigators are examining the statements made during the press conference and the evidence submitted in the complaint.
With the Supreme Court now staying the Telangana High Court order, the legal relief earlier granted to Khera has been temporarily halted. The top court will take up the matter again after responses are filed by the concerned parties. The outcome of the upcoming hearing could determine the next course of legal action in the case, which has already drawn significant political attention.