The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Assam government’s challenge against the Telangana High Court’s temporary relief to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a criminal case involving alleged defamatory comments against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. The matter is set to be heard by a Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar. The Assam government has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court contesting the Telangana High Court’s decision to grant transit anticipatory bail to Khera for a week.
The Telangana High Court had provided interim protection to Khera, allowing him time to seek regular bail in connection with the FIR filed by Assam Police. Justice K. Sujana, a single-judge Bench, ordered Khera’s release on anticipatory bail for a week if arrested. Khera had approached the Telangana High Court for transit anticipatory bail after facing a case by Assam Police for allegedly making defamatory statements against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
During the Telangana High Court hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera, argued that the FIR was politically motivated and that Khera was being victimized for questioning the Assam Chief Minister and his family. Singhvi contended that even if the allegations were false, they would only amount to defamation, not arrest. Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia opposed the plea, questioning its validity before the Telangana High Court, stating that Khera, a Delhi resident, had no valid reason to seek relief outside Assam.
The Assam Police have charged Khera under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, following his claims about Riniki Bhuyan Sarma owning multiple foreign passports, undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the United States. The issue sparked a political clash between the BJP and Congress before the Assam Assembly elections, with Congress supporting Khera and accusing the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government of using the police to silence political adversaries. Senior Congress leaders defended Khera, suggesting that the Assam Chief Minister and his family should address the accusations rather than resorting to legal action.
