The Supreme Court on April 15 stayed a Telangana High Court order that had granted Congress leader Pawan Khera one-week transit anticipatory bail in a case filed over allegations against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar passed the interim order while issuing notice on a petition by the Assam government challenging the Telangana High Court’s decision.
The case arises from remarks by Khera alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held multiple passports of different countries-claims the Chief Minister’s family has strongly denied. The FIR was registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to defamation, forgery, cheating and making false statements.
During the hearing, the bench expressed surprise at the High Court’s grant of transit anticipatory bail outside the territorial jurisdiction where the FIR was registered. “We are surprised,” Justice Maheshwari said while scrutinising the circumstances in which the Telangana High Court provided interim relief. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, told the court that Khera had not explained why he approached a Telangana bench instead of seeking relief in Assam and flagged concerns of “forum shopping,” a practice the apex court has criticised in past rulings.
The Supreme Court made clear that the interim stay would not prejudice Khera’s chances if he approaches a competent court in Assam for anticipatory bail, signalling that a proper forum in Assam can still consider his plea. The Telangana High Court had on April 10 granted the one-week transit anticipatory bail to allow Khera time to seek relief from the appropriate Assam court, invoking protection of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The apex court’s decision marks a key turn in the legal battle and raises broader questions about the validity of granting transit anticipatory bail outside the jurisdiction where an FIR is lodged. The matter will now proceed on the Assam government’s petition, with the Supreme Court set to examine the territorial propriety of the Telangana High Court’s interim order.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/were-surprised-supreme-court-stays-pawan-kheras-bail-in-assam-fir-1375911-2026-04-15?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-15 12:11:00
