Kumar Bahukhandi
Congress leader Pawan Khera
Court denies relief in FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma
The Gauhati High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with an FIR lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma over allegations related to holding multiple passports.
A bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia had reserved its verdict on April 21 after hearing arguments from both sides. While the plea has now been rejected, a detailed order is still awaited.
Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the case was driven by political vendetta, citing alleged remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He maintained that Khera was not a flight risk and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary. Senior counsel K N Choudhary supported the submissions, terming the allegations “malicious” and suggesting the matter amounted at most to criminal defamation.
Opposing the plea, Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia argued that the case involved serious offences such as cheating and forgery, going beyond mere defamation.
Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera interim transit anticipatory bail on April 10 to approach the appropriate court. However, the Supreme Court of India stayed this relief on April 15 and later declined to vacate the stay or extend protection.
Following these developments, Khera approached the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The FIR, registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station, invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to cheating, forgery and defamation.
Khera, who heads the Congress party’s Media & Publicity Department and is a member of its Working Committee, has alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma holds multiple passports—claims that triggered the present legal proceedings.
