The Assam government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Telangana High Court order granting one-week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations made against the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, officials and court records said on Sunday.
The petition, filed through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, is expected to come up for hearing later this week.
On April 10, the Telangana High Court granted Khera one-week transit anticipatory bail, allowing him time to move the jurisdictional court in Assam while imposing specific conditions on his release.
“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court is of the view that the petitioner has made out a case for grant of limited transit anticipatory bail, as his apprehension of arrest appears to be reasonable and supported by material on record,” the High Court had observed in its order.
The court directed that Khera be released on bail in the event of arrest upon executing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with two sureties of the like amount each.
Also read: Telangana HC grants Pawan Khera one-week anticipatory bail
It also required him to cooperate with the investigation, remain available for interrogation, and not leave the country without permission of the competent court.
Further conditions included that he must approach the competent jurisdictional court in Assam within the stipulated period, and as a public figure, exercise restraint in making any further public statements on the subject that could prejudice the investigation.
According to the case record, Khera on April 5 alleged that CM Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held multiple passports and owned foreign property which were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s election affidavit for the April 9 Assembly polls.
Following the remarks, a case was registered against Khera at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to false statements in connection with elections, private defence, and cheating.
Khera, who moved the High Court on April 7, had cited his Hyderabad address while seeking protection from arrest and requested anticipatory relief in the event of coercive action.
Follow us
