Congress leader Pawan Khera has suffered a major setback from the Supreme Court. The court has stayed the Telangana High Court’s order granting him interim bail. The Supreme Court pointed out that the Telangana High Court failed to consider earlier decisions on jurisdiction. It advised Khera to seek anticipatory bail from the Assam Court. The matter will be heard in the Supreme Court in three weeks.
Solicitor General Highlights Misuse of Law
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the Telangana High Court lacked jurisdiction in this case. Both the crime and FIR occurred in Assam, making it inappropriate for Khera to file the petition in Telangana. Mehta also criticized Khera’s claim that he frequently visits Hyderabad because his wife’s house is there. He pointed out that Khera’s wife actually resides in Delhi. Filing petitions in another state was a clear misuse of the legal process.
Judges’ Concerns Over Jurisdictional Abuse
The judges noted that Khera had even requested a three-week extension in Telangana High Court. Mehta highlighted the potential for individuals to file petitions in any state for convenience, even in places like Nagaland. The judges also addressed allegations that Khera may have filed the petition with forged documents, further complicating the matter. In response, the Supreme Court has issued a notice, placing a stay on the Telangana High Court’s order for now.
Telangana Court Had Granted Bail
On April 10, 2026, Telangana High Court had granted Pawan Khera interim anticipatory bail for a week. This case relates to an FIR filed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. She accused Khera of making defamatory and malicious remarks. Khera had sought protection from arrest in connection with this case.
Assam Police Registers Case Against Khera
The Assam Police had filed a case against Khera on charges of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The case stems from Khera’s allegations that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held multiple foreign passports and unreported properties abroad. Assam police had sent a team to Khera’s residence in Delhi, though he was not present at the time.
The Start of the Controversy
The controversy began after Khera’s press conference, where he made sensational claims about Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. He accused her of possessing three passports, luxurious unreported properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the United States. These allegations immediately drew the attention of the Assam police, leading to charges under 14 sections of the BNS, including defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
