The Gauhati High Court on April 24, 2026, rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in a First Information Report lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging her purported possession of multiple passports. A single‑judge bench led by Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia reserved judgment on April 21 before delivering the order; the court’s detailed written reasons are awaited.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Khera, told the court the proceedings were politically motivated and framed them as part of a wider vendetta, citing alleged statements by the Chief Minister against Khera and the context of forthcoming elections. Senior Counsel K.N. Choudhary supported the defence, describing the allegations as “scandalous” and saying their tone and presentation suggested deliberate malice. The defence argued the matter at most amounted to criminal defamation that should be pursued by way of a private complaint.
Opposing the plea, Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia contended the case went beyond defamation and involved serious criminal conduct, including alleged fabrication of documents and title deeds. He told the bench that the primary offences invoked related to cheating and forgery.
The FIR, registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station, invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering alleged false statements in connection with elections, cheating, forgery of valuable security and public records, use of forged documents, intentional insult likely to provoke breach of peace, and defamation. The complaint follows public claims by Khera that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma holds multiple passports.
Earlier procedural developments include a one‑week transit anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court on April 10, 2026, which allowed Khera to approach the appropriate court in Assam; the Supreme Court of India stayed that relief on April 15, 2026, after an appeal by Assam Police and later declined to vacate the stay or extend the transit protection, while clarifying that its interim order and the Telangana High Court’s observations should not influence the merits of any anticipatory bail application before an Assam court.
As part of the investigation this month, Assam Police conducted searches in Hyderabad, where Khera is reported to have a residence, and visited his Delhi residence. Khera is chairman of the Congress’s Media and Publicity Department and a member of the Congress Working Committee. The court’s fuller order, which will set out the reasons for denying anticipatory bail, is yet to be published.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/gauhati-high-court-rejects-pawan-kheras-anticipatory-bail-in-fir-linked-to-assam-cms-wife-1380569-2026-04-24?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-24 11:12:00
