The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s petition seeking anticipatory bail in a case registered against him by the Assam Police, Bar and Bench reported.
The police have filed a case of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy against Khera based on a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia had reserved his verdict on Khera’s anticipatory bail petition on April 21, according to Bar and Bench. He rejected the petition on Friday.
Riniki Bhuyan Sarma had filed a complaint against the Congress leader after he claimed on April 5 that he had documentary evidence showing she holds passports of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda. Both the chief minister and his wife denied the allegations. They also alleged that Khera’s claims were based on forged documents.
On April 10, the Telangana High Court granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for a week. Transit anticipatory bail is a temporary protection from arrest granted in one state to enable persons to approach the courts where the case has been filed.
However, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order on April 15, and directed Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court instead.
Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged on April 6 that the documents cited by the Congress had been supplied by a Pakistani social media group.
The chief minister had also claimed that the Congress had used details from a passport that had been allegedly lost. This document, he claimed, had been uploaded to the Pakistani social media group.
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