Telangana High Court Reserves Order On Pawan Khera's Anticipatory Bail Plea In FIR By Assam CM's Wife Over Passport Row

The Telangana High Court on Thursday (April 9) reserved its orders 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 K Sujana is likely to pronounce the verdict tomorrow.

The anticipatory bail petition has been filed in Hyderabad, where Khera has a residence.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Khera argued that for an alleged offence of defamation, the FIR invokes "every possible offence one can dream of." This, he argued, shows that the criminal action is motivated and reeks of political vendetta.

"You're not fighting your political opponents politically, but through vicious unjustified misuse of law. Because you want to silence me...It is disproportionate...the defacto complainant is virtually the hon'ble CM of Assam," he said.

For context, the FIR has been registered under Sections 175(false statement in connection with an election), 35, 36, 318 (Cheating), 338, (forgery of valuable will, security etc.), 337(Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.), 340(Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine), 352(Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 356(Defamation) of BNS at Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.

Singhvi further submitted that the entire evidence relating to the incident is digital and thus arrest is not necessary.

"Guidelines say you must give me notice, show necessity of arrest. This reeks of malafide...Why would you even want to arrest for something like this? Which document I will interfere with? I'm a prominent political figure. I'm a political opponent, but that does not make me long standing criminal. I've deep roots in society. I'm not a flight risk."

Advocate General of Assam Devajit Saikia, appearing for the Assam Police, on the other hand, challenged the maintainability of the anticipatory bail plea in Hyderabad. He submitted that Khera, a resident of Delhi, had not shown any reason as to why he cannot come to Assam and file for anticipatory bail there. "There is no medical emergency...He can file anticipatory bail in Assam from any part of the country," AG said.

The AG further argued that Khera is an "established flight risk" since, "when police went to him, he fled away...He could have gone to Delhi because that is his place of residence. Instead he is in Hyderabad...Tomorrow if police reaches there, he will fly to Chennai..."

Opposing this, another counsel appearing for Khera submitted that the plea was filed in Hyderabad since Khera's family and residence is here. "We have shown wife's aadhar card. She has contested from Sanathnagar constituency (in Telangana)," he said.

AG further contended that Khera's allegations of political vendetta are baseless, as the complainant is not a political person or rival. He also submitted that the provisions of forgery have been invoked since Khera allegedly used "fake, forged" documents to level allegations against Riniki Sharma. "A lady cant be defamed like this," he said.

Khera seeks that in the event of his arrest he may be released on bail.

On Tuesday, Assam police had reached Hyderabad, Telangana looking for Khera. The Congress leader has claimed that Assam CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports. Khera is the Chairman, Media & Publicity Department of the Congress party and is also a member of the Congress Working Committee.

As per reports, Assam Police had also visited Khera's residence in Delhi and conducted a search.

Case title: Pawan Khera v/s The State of Telangana

CRLP 5285/2026