The Guwahati High Court today reserved its order in the anticipatory bail plea moved by Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with an FIR filed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, amid allegations related to her holding multiple passports.
Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia heard the plea on Tuesday. The order is likely to be announced today or tomorrow. A criminal case alleging defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy was recently registered against Khera.Appearing for Khera, Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi referred to CM Himanta's alleged statement against Khera and submitted that his action smacks of political vendetta, especially in the context of upcoming elections.
"On what basis can the petitioner expect a fair treatment when the Chief Minister is breathing down his neck?" Singhvi submitted as he added that the petitioner isn't a flight risk and there is no necessity and need for his arrest.Senior Counsel KN Choudhary reiterated Singhvi's submissions and described the allegations against Khera as scandalous. "The manner, tenor, and packaging of the allegations unmistakably show that they were made with deliberate malice", he submitted.
On the other hand, Advocate General Assam Devajit Lon Saikia opposed the grant of any relief to Khera, submitting that this is not a simple defamation case, as the matter involves the manufacture of documents and title deeds. He added that the dominant offences are cheating and forgery.
The case was registered following his recent claims that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan holds multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad.Assam Police had visited Khera’s residence in Delhi on April 7 but he was not present there. Khera later approached the Telangana High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail.
The High Court granted him a week's relief on April 10 to enable him approach the courts in Assam for anticipatory bail.On April 15, the Supreme Court stayed Telangana High Court's April 10 order on an appeal moved by Assam government.Khera then filed an application challenging the Supreme Court's ex-parte stay on the High Court's transit anticipatory bail order.
However, the top court last week declined to vacate the stay and also refused to extend the transit bail period. It asked Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court instead.
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