Guwahati: Assam govt has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Telangana High Court’s order granting transit anticipatory bail to Congress media and publicity chairman Pawan Khera in a case linked to his allegations against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.The case was registered by the Crime Branch of the Guwahati Police Commissionerate based on an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma on April 6 against Khera. The complaint followed two press conferences addressed by Khera — first in Delhi and then in Guwahati—where he alleged that Riniki held multiple passports and owned undisclosed properties abroad. Khera alleged that apart from holding passports issued by UAE, Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, Riniki owns undisclosed properties in Dubai.On April 7, an Assam Police team led by DCP (Crime) Debajit Nath, in coordination with Delhi Police, searched Khera’s residence in Delhi but did not find him. Nath had said police would trace Khera “from wherever he was.”On April 10, Justice K Sujana of the Telangana high court granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for one week, subject to conditions, including that he approaches the Gauhati high court for appropriate relief.Assam Police contested the Telangana HC’s jurisdiction, arguing the case was registered in Assam, not Telangana. The HC held that limited transit pre-arrest bail could be granted even for cases registered outside its territorial jurisdiction.The court stated that the contention of the Advocate General of Assam that Khera can directly approach the courts in Assam cannot be a ground to deny limited protection, particularly when there exists a reasonable apprehension of arrest.
