Passport row: Pawan Khera gets anticipatory bail after FIR by Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife

NEW DELHI: The Telangana high court on Friday granted one week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case registered by Assam Police over allegations of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy.The court directed that Khera be given protection for seven days to enable him to approach the appropriate court having jurisdiction and file a regular anticipatory bail application. The order was passed by Justice K Sujana after hearing the matter.“The petitioner (Khera) is granted time for one week to file an application before the concerned court,” the high court said in its order, Bar and Bench reported.The case against Khera was registered in Assam following his public remarks alleging that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad. The complaint led to charges under several provisions, including defamation, forgery, cheating, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy.Assam Police had reportedly visited Khera’s residence in Delhi on April 7, but he was not present at the time. He later moved the Telangana high court seeking transit anticipatory bail to prevent arrest while approaching the concerned court in Assam.Appearing for Khera, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the case reflected political vendetta and amounted to excessive use of criminal provisions. He questioned the FIR, stating that multiple offences had been added despite the complaint arising from a press conference.On the other hand, Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia questioned why Khera had approached the Telangana high court despite residing in Delhi and the case being registered in Assam.He said there was no indication that Khera faced any threat in Assam and that the state was not a 'banana republic.'"There is no indication that he cannot come to Assam. Assam is not a banana republic. There is no threat to his life," Saika said. The legal dispute comes after Khera approached the court claiming that he had not been provided a copy of the FIR and that the allegations did not constitute a valid criminal case. He also argued that the charges were politically motivated.