Pawan Khera gets bail: Himanta Biswa Sarma says guilty will face action over 'false documents' remark

Guwahati: With Supreme Court granting anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with the FIR registered by Assam Police on the complaint by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Sarma said he is confident that the courts will take note of this, sooner or later and the guilty will be punished for his brazen act of maligning a woman's character using false documents to influence electoral outcomes.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar granted the pre-arrest bail to Khera subject to certain conditions. Earlier the court has reserved its judgment.

The court stated, "The appellant (Pawan Khera) is directed to be released on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in the Crime Branch P.S. Case No. 04/2026 and on such reasonable terms and conditions which may be put by the Investigating Officer as deemed fit.”


Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated in X, “I don’t need lessons on democracy, public discourse or decency from anyone, especially from

DrAMSinghvi. Decency and him can never be in the same room. The real issue here pertains to a woman - who has nothing to do with politics - but has her character assassinated on national television using FORGED documents from other countries. I am confident the courts will take note of this, sooner or later and the guilty will be punished for his brazen act of maligning a woman's character using false documents to influence electoral outcomes. Also Dr Singhvi, it’s easy to speak on a platform where I am not present to respond. That is not called a debate- it is simply avoiding a fair exchange, one which you were espousing. And let me be clear, this is just the beginning, not the end.”

The Gauhati High Court on April 24 rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in a case linked to his allegations that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed foreign properties.

A single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia dismissed the application filed earlier this week. Khera had approached the Supreme Court, which directed him to seek relief from the Gauhati High Court.

Assam Police have registered an FIR against Khera and had visited his New Delhi residence on April 7 but did not find him.

Following the allegations, the chief minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, filed criminal complaints against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for a week on April 10, observing that his apprehension of arrest was reasonable and allowing him to approach the appropriate court.

The Assam government challenged this before the Supreme Court, which on April 15 stayed the transit bail. The apex court later declined to vacate the stay or grant further relief, after which Khera moved the Gauhati High Court.

On April 7, the court of chief judicial officer of Kamrup Metro had rejected Assam Police’s plea for issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Khera in the case.