The Supreme Court of India on Friday (April 17, 2026) allowed Congress leader Pawan Khera to immediately move the competent court in Assam for anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, over allegations that she held multiple passports.
A Bench headed by Justice J.K. Maheshwari refused to grant Mr. Khera’s request for protection from arrest till Tuesday (April 21). Mr. Khera said the courts in Assam were closed and that he was apprehensive of arrest by the Assam Police by Monday.
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Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the interim relief of a one-week transit bail granted to him by the Telangana High Court expired on April 17, making him vulnerable to coercive measures by the police. This submission was made despite the fact that the High Court’s order had been stayed by the Supreme Court on April 15 on the basis of a challenge by the State of Assam.
The April 15 stay order of the Supreme Court had recorded the submission made by the State, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, that Mr. Khera had taken advantage of “fabricated documents” in the High Court and obtained the temporary relief of transit bail on April 10.
