The Supreme Court of India on Friday declined to lift its stay on the Telangana High Court order granting transit bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera, effectively leaving him vulnerable to arrest by Assam Police in connection with a case registered in Guwahati.
Khera faces legal proceedings over alleged remarks targeting Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
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A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar ruled that while no interim protection would be granted, Khera is free to immediately approach the Gauhati High Court for anticipatory bail. The apex court also directed that the Guwahati court decide the matter strictly on its merits, without being influenced by the present proceedings.
During the hearing, the bench also pulled up Khera for submitting incorrect documentation, including an inaccurate Aadhaar card. The court, however, refused a request for interim protection until Tuesday.
Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi informed the court that a plea for anticipatory bail would be filed before the Guwahati High Court on Monday. Expressing disappointment after the court denied temporary relief, Singhvi remarked, “Am I (Khera) a terrorist?”
Earlier, Singhvi had argued that the previous order staying the Telangana High Court’s grant of one-week anticipatory transit bail had been passed ex-parte. The Supreme Court had subsequently stayed that relief, leading to the current proceedings.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
