SC Flags ‘Political Rivalry’ in Assam Case, Grants Bail to Pawan Khera
SC Flags ‘Political Rivalry’ in Assam Case, Grants Bail to Pawan Khera
Digital Desk: In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera amid allegations of defamation and forgery filed by the Assam Police. This decision overturned the earlier denial of bail by the Gauhati High Court. The bench, comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar, emphasized that the political context of the case necessitated the protection of Khera’s personal liberty at this stage.
The controversy originated from remarks made by Khera during a press conference, where he accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, of holding multiple undisclosed foreign passports and having financial interests abroad. These allegations led to serious charges, including criminal conspiracy, forgery, and defamation.
The legal proceedings regarding this issue have been tumultuous. Following an attempt by the Assam Police to locate Khera at his residence in Delhi on April 7, he initially obtained short-term protection from the Telangana High Court. However, this relief was soon undermined by a Supreme Court ruling, following an appeal from the Assam government, which led Khera to pursue legal remedy in Assam.
The Gauhati High Court ultimately rejected his plea on April 24, highlighting the necessity for custodial interrogation to authenticate the documents cited by Khera. The court also distinguished between the realm of political criticism and allegations associating a private individual, indicating that the latter carried more significant legal implications.
Khera subsequently approached the Supreme Court, contending that the case was a blatant example of political vendetta linked to his public statements. The Supreme Court's grant of anticipatory bail effectively prevents any immediate coercive action against Khera while the broader legal dispute surrounding the allegations and their political ramifications is still in progress.
