Telangana High Court Grants Interim Relief to Pawan Khera in Assam Police Case

Hyderabad, April 2026 : The Telangana High Court on Friday granted interim relief to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with a case registered by Assam Police over his alleged defamatory remarks against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The court provided Khera with anticipatory bail for a period of one week, allowing him time to approach the appropriate court in Assam and seek regular bail. The order was pronounced by Justice K. Sujana, who had reserved judgment on the matter a day earlier.

Khera had approached the High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, stating that he was in Hyderabad when he became aware of the FIR filed against him in Assam. The relief ensures temporary protection from arrest, enabling him to pursue legal remedies in the jurisdiction where the case has been registered.

Appearing on behalf of Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the case was politically motivated. He contended that the FIR was an attempt to target a political opponent and had been framed with multiple charges to exert undue pressure.

Singhvi further maintained that even if Khera’s statements were found to be incorrect, the matter would fall under defamation and would not warrant arrest. “He is not absconding and is willing to cooperate with the investigation. He approached this court only because he was in Hyderabad with his wife when he learnt about the FIR,” Singhvi submitted.

On the other hand, the Assam government opposed the plea. Representing the state, Advocate General Devajit Saikia questioned the maintainability of the petition in the Telangana High Court. He argued that Khera, being a resident of Delhi, had no compelling reason to seek anticipatory bail outside Assam and should instead approach the local courts there.

The case against Khera stems from allegations he made during a recent press conference, where he claimed that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple foreign passports, undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, and links to shell companies in the United States. Following these claims, Assam Police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

A team of Assam Police had earlier visited Khera’s residence in Delhi as part of the investigation, but he was not present at the time. Security measures were also heightened at his residence in Hyderabad, where barricades were reportedly placed outside his home.

The controversy intensified after Khera’s remarks drew sharp reactions from the ruling establishment in Assam. In response, the Congress leader released a video statement, asserting that he would not be intimidated by what he described as coercive tactics.

In the video shared by the Indian National Congress on social media, Khera challenged the Chief Minister to respond to the allegations instead of resorting to police action. “Instead of clarifying on serious charges, the state machinery has been used to silence dissent. But we will continue to ask questions,” he said.

The interim relief granted by the Telangana High Court provides temporary respite to Khera, even as the legal and political battle surrounding the case continues to unfold.