The Telangana High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail for one week to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with an FIR filed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.
Congress leader Pawan Khera (Image: PTI/File)
The Telangana High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail for one week to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with an FIR filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
While pronouncing the order, Justice K Sujana said, “The petitioner is granted time for one week to file an application before the concerned court, relief to the petitioner for one week with conditions”.
The anticipatory bail petition was filed in Telangana’s Hyderabad, where Khera has a residence.
Meanwhile, a detail copy of the order is still awaited.
‘Motivated, Reeks Of Political Vendetta’
During the hearing on Thursday, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Khera argued before the court that for an alleged offence of defamation, the FIR involves “every possible offence one can dream of”.
He claimed that the action was “motivated, and reeked of political vendetta”, according to a report by LiveLaw.
Advocate Singhvi argued the FIR was a “vicious unjustified misuse of law”. “You’re not fighting your political opponents politically, but through vicious unjustified misuse of law. Because you want to silence me…It is disproportionate…the defacto complainant is virtually the hon’ble CM of Assam,” he said.
Advocate General of Assam Devajit Saikia, appearing for the Assam Police, challenged the maintainability of the anticipatory bail plea in Hyderabad.
Since the FIR was registered in Assam, he asked why Khera, a resident of Delhi, cannot come to Assam and file for anticipatory bail there.
What Is The Case?
The case stems from Pawan Khera’s allegations during a press briefing on April 4 that the wife of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma holds three passports from different nations.
For context, dual citizenship is not permitted in India.
An FIR was registered against the Congress leader at Guwahati Crime Branch on April 5, followed by a search at his residence in Delhi on April 7.
The same day, Khera moved a criminal petition before the Telangana High Court, seeking anticipatory bail.
April 10, 2026, 11:39 IST
Read More
