The Supreme Court has declined Congress leader Pawan Khera’s request to extend his anticipatory bail in the Assam case, directing him instead to approach the Gauhati High Court for relief. This decision follows controversy over a forged Aadhaar card that was initially submitted during his bail plea, which the court said could not be overlooked. Khera is facing charges in Assam after alleging that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife held foreign passports.
His counsel argued that the Aadhaar issue was a minor mistake corrected later, but the bench emphasized that such lapses carry serious implications. The Assam Police opposed any extension, stressing that the alleged offence occurred in Assam and that Khera should not have sought relief from the Telangana High Court. Khera has described the case as politically motivated, claiming excessive police action was taken against him for criticizing the chief minister.
The Supreme Court clarified that any future anticipatory bail plea filed before the Gauhati High Court must be considered independently, without influence from earlier transit bail orders. This ruling places Khera’s legal battle squarely in Assam, where his pre-arrest bail plea is scheduled to be heard next week, marking a pivotal moment in both his case and the ongoing political tensions surrounding it.