Congress Leader Pawan Khera Moves Supreme Court for Anticipatory Bail in Passport Row Case

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday told the Supreme Court of India it was “not necessary to humiliate him with arrest” in the passport row case linked to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife. The top court reserved its order on Khera's anticipatory bail plea.

During the hearing, Khera told the court that the allegations against him were a matter of trial. He further said, “Some sections invoked against me are bailable, others don't require arrest.”

Khera also submitted that if he does not get anticipatory bail in the case registered against him in Assam, “then purpose of pre-arrest bail is gone.” A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.

Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said the case did not warrant custodial interrogation and reiterated that arrest was unnecessary. Opposing the plea, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, told the court that Khera had shown “fake” and “doctored” copies of passports belonging to the chief minister’s wife. He also alleged that Khera had been absconding and disseminating videos, while maintaining that claims of multiple citizenship were false.

The case stems from allegations made by Khera regarding Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, following which criminal complaints were filed against him at the Guwahati crime branch under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Khera has challenged an April 24 order of the Gauhati High Court, which denied him anticipatory bail. Earlier, the Telangana high court had granted him a seven-day transit anticipatory bail. However, the Assam Police moved the apex court against the relief, following which the Supreme Court stayed the transit bail and directed Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court. The top court is now expected to deliver its order on Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in due course.