On May 1, 2026, the Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera. The case was filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Rinki Bhuiyan. She accused Khera of presenting fake documents in a press conference, including forged passport and property papers. This led to an FIR being lodged against him in Guwahati.
Khera initially sought anticipatory bail from the Guwahati High Court but did not receive relief. He then approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the statements made by Sarma were designed to insult him. He claimed the case was politically motivated and aimed at his humiliation.
Supreme Court Acknowledges Political Nature of the Case
The Supreme Court, comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar, found the charges against Khera to be politically motivated. The court noted that the accusations did not justify his detention for interrogation. The court also emphasized that the truth of the charges would emerge during the trial.
Additionally, the Supreme Court criticized the High Court’s reference to section 339 of the BNS. The High Court had incorrectly commented on charges not included in the FIR. The Supreme Court clarified that the High Court should not have based its comments solely on the statements from the Advocate General.
Court’s Ruling and Further Instructions to Pawan Khera
After hearing Khera’s arguments, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on his anticipatory bail. The court also included Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statements in its ruling. It emphasized that the case stemmed from political rivalry, not legitimate accusations.
The Supreme Court instructed Khera to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Furthermore, the court directed Khera to inform it before leaving the country and to avoid tampering with evidence.
