Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a plea filed by Pawan Khera seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a criminal case registered by the Assam Police Crime Branch.
The case was filed on the basis of a complaint lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, who accused Khera of making false allegations that she possessed multiple passports and undisclosed foreign assets.
A single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia heard arguments from both sides for nearly three hours before reserving the verdict. The order is not expected on Wednesday.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Khera via video conferencing, argued that his client was not a flight risk and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary. He also contended that the case was politically motivated.
Representing the state, Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia opposed the plea, arguing that the matter involved serious offences such as cheating and forgery and was not confined to defamation. He also described Khera as a potential flight risk.
Khera, chairman of the All India Congress Committee media and publicity department, had alleged during press conferences in New Delhi and Guwahati on April 5 that Sharma held passports of the UAE, Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, and owned properties in Dubai along with assets in shell companies.
Following the allegations, Sharma filed criminal complaints against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station on April 6 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to false statements in connection with elections, cheating, forgery, intentional insult and defamation.
Assam Police later visited Khera’s residence in Delhi on April 7, but he was not present. He subsequently approached the Telangana High Court, which granted him seven days of transit anticipatory bail on April 10.
The Assam Police challenged that order in the Supreme Court of India, which on April 15 stayed the transit bail. The apex court, however, said that if Khera sought anticipatory bail before the competent court in Assam, the earlier interim protection would not prejudice consideration of his plea.
Khera later sought vacation of the stay order in the Supreme Court, but the request was declined, and he was asked to approach the Gauhati High Court.