Congress leader Pawan Khera moved the Supreme Court of India on Sunday (April 26, 2026), challenging the Gauhati High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in a First Information Report (FIR) registered on his alleged remarks that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife held multiple passports and assets abroad.
The High Court had rejected the pre-arrest bail petition on the ground that custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the source of his accusations. The High Court, in its decision on April 24, declined to accept Mr. Khera’s contention that his comments were merely political rhetoric.
Justice will prevail over politics of threat, intimidation: Congress stands behind Pawan Khera
The apex court had declined Mr. Khera interim protection from arrest on April 17 while allowing him liberty to immediately approach a competent court in Assam, where the FIR was registered. The FIR listed offences including forgery, criminal conspiracy, and defamation against Mr. Khera on the basis of a complaint filed by the Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
Previously, on April 15, the apex court stayed an order of the Telangana High Court allowing Mr. Khera the relief of transit bail. The stay was passed on a petition filed by the State of Assam.
