Guwahati, 20 April (HS): Congress leader Pawan Khera has approached the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a defamation case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, over allegations linked to multiple passports and undisclosed overseas assets.

The move comes after the Supreme Court of India declined to grant interim protection from arrest and directed Khera to seek relief from a competent court in Assam. The apex court also stayed the transit anticipatory bail earlier granted by the Telangana High Court, making it clear that the Gauhati High Court should independently adjudicate the matter.

The case originates from remarks made by Khera ahead of the recent Assembly elections, in which he alleged that the Chief Minister possessed multiple foreign passports and had links to overseas citizenships, besides failing to disclose certain foreign assets of his spouse in official election documents. Both Himanta Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuiyan Sharma dismissed the claims as fabricated and misleading, asserting that the allegations were based on manipulated or AI-generated content and linking their origin to a Pakistani YouTube channel. Following this, Sharma initiated criminal and civil defamation proceedings.

Police have registered a case against Khera under provisions related to making false statements in connection with elections and cheating. Earlier, he had secured limited transit anticipatory bail from the Telangana High Court on April 10, but the relief was later put on hold by the Supreme Court on a plea by the Assam government, which also refused to extend protection from arrest further.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera, argued that his client was not a flight risk and sought interim relief to enable him to approach the Gauhati High Court. However, a bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar declined the request, stating that Khera could seek urgent relief before the appropriate court in Assam.

Meanwhile, a local court in Guwahati rejected the Assam Police’s plea for a non-bailable warrant against Khera. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup Metro, observed that the request was based on presumptions without sufficient material evidence. The court further noted that since the offences are cognisable and non-bailable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police already have the authority to proceed with arrest without requiring a warrant at this stage.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash