Telangana High Court Grants 1-Week Anticipatory Bail To Congress Leader Pawan Khera, Permits Him To Move Before Concerned Court

The Telangana High Court on Friday (April 10) granted anticipatory bail for one week to 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 while pronouncing the order said, "The petitioner is granted time time for one week to file an application before the concerned court...relief to petitioner for one week with conditions".

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

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

During the hearing on Thursday, 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.

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..."

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