New Delhi, April 15 (Udaipur Kiran): The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Telangana High Court’s order granting transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case registered by Assam Police.
The case relates to allegations of defamation and forgery. The FIR was filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after Khera claimed that she possessed multiple passports from different countries.
A bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar heard the Assam government’s appeal and put a stay on the High Court’s relief. The Supreme Court clarified that if Khera approaches a competent court in Assam for anticipatory bail, the present stay order will not adversely affect his application.
Appearing for the Assam government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned the jurisdiction of the Telangana High Court, arguing that the alleged offence took place in Guwahati. He also pointed out that one of the offences mentioned in the FIR carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years.
During the hearing, the court was informed that Khera had relied on his wife’s Aadhaar card to establish jurisdiction in Telangana. The Solicitor General opposed this, stating that the document indicated a Delhi address and could not justify filing the plea in Telangana. He termed it an attempt to choose a convenient forum and misuse the legal process.
Taking note of these submissions, the Supreme Court observed that the documents placed on record raised serious questions about how jurisdiction was invoked. The bench noted that presenting incorrect or misleading documents to seek relief from a particular court could amount to misuse of process.
After considering all aspects, the apex court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order with immediate effect and issued notice in the matter, seeking a response within three weeks.
The FIR against Khera includes charges of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy, based on his recent allegations regarding the Assam Chief Minister’s wife. Earlier, Khera had approached the Telangana High Court seeking protection from arrest, where he was granted interim relief for one week to enable him to apply for regular anticipatory bail in Assam.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
