Kolkata, 17 April (H.S.) : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday reacted sharply after Congress leader Pawan Khera failed to secure immediate relief from the Supreme Court, saying he should surrender before the law in Assam and face the legal process in Guwahati.

Sarma made the remarks while campaigning in Kolkata for the West Bengal Assembly elections.

The Supreme Court, while hearing Khera’s plea, refused to extend his interim transit anticipatory bail till Tuesday. The court said Khera should approach the Gauhati High Court for anticipatory bail and clarified that the High Court should decide the matter independently without being influenced by any observations made by the apex court.

The case relates to an FIR registered by Assam Police against Khera over public allegations concerning Riniki Sarma, wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera had allegedly accused her of holding multiple passports and concealing foreign assets.

The FIR includes charges related to cheating, defamation and criminal conspiracy.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over documents filed on behalf of Khera. The court observed that an incorrect Aadhaar-related document had been submitted before the Telangana High Court, allegedly in an attempt to mislead the court.

Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the petition had been filed in haste and the correct documents were submitted later.

Singhvi requested interim protection till Tuesday so that Khera could move the appropriate court in Assam for anticipatory bail. However, the Supreme Court declined the plea, observing that filing false or fabricated documents to create jurisdiction could not be treated as a minor error.

Representing the Assam government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that incorrect documents had been used before the Telangana High Court to claim jurisdiction, amounting to forum shopping.

The Supreme Court has stayed the Telangana High Court’s one-week interim anticipatory bail order and directed Khera to file his reply within three weeks.

The court also clarified that if Khera files an anticipatory bail plea before the competent court in Assam, the present order would not adversely affect his case.

When asked about the development during his campaign in Kolkata, Sarma said, “Pawan Khera cannot escape. He should go to Assam and surrender before the law.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh