Pawan Khera moves SC after HC denies anticipatory bail in Assam case
Pawan Khera moves SC after HC denies anticipatory bail in Assam case
Pawan Khera appeals to the Supreme Court after Gauhati High Court rejects anticipatory bail in a case over remarks about the Assam CM’s wife and suspected foreign assets.
Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, moved the Supreme Court on Sunday, April 26, 2026, challenging the Gauhati High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in an FIR linked to his remarks about the Assam Chief Minister’s wife. Khera had claimed at a press briefing that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad. The Supreme Court filing marks a new chapter in a legal battle that has drawn attention to the boundaries of political rhetoric and accountability in public discourse.
The Gauhati High Court had, on April 24, rejected Khera’s pre-arrest bail petition, saying custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the source of his accusations. It also dismissed his contention that the remarks were merely political rhetoric, indicating the court’s concern with establishing the origin of the allegations before issuing relief from arrest.
A related remark from a separate Supreme Court bench, cited in other reporting, noted that while the court can reject anticipatory bail, it may not direct an accused to surrender. That principle provides context for how bail decisions in high-stakes political cases are navigated, and underscores the evolving standards governing anticipatory bail in India.
The FIR, registered by the Crime Branch of the Assam Police in Guwahati, centers on Khera’s claims about the CM’s wife and the subsequent legal challenge to his bail. The case has injected political controversy into the ongoing legal process and will be watched closely as the Supreme Court weighs Khera’s appeal and considerations of due process and free expression.
