Pawan Khera Gets Anticipatory Bail From Supreme Court In Himanta Sarma's Wife Defamation Case

The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in connection with allegations over his remarks against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. The decision comes after the Gauhati High Court had earlier rejected his bail plea, observing that he was a “flight risk” and that the case involved serious allegations.

The top court directed Khera to fully cooperate with the investigation and appear before authorities whenever summoned. It also imposed conditions restricting him from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence. Additionally, the court barred him from leaving the country without prior permission and allowed lower courts to impose further conditions if necessary.

A bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice AS Chandurkar noted that, at first glance, the case appeared to carry “political overtones", suggesting that both allegations and counter-allegations may be politically motivated. The court emphasised that in such situations, custodial interrogation is not automatically required, especially when personal liberty is at stake.

Also Read: Pawan Khera Denied Anticipatory Bail By Gauhati High Court In Assam Case

The judges also underlined that the right to personal liberty is fundamental and must not be curtailed without strong justification. They stated that criminal proceedings must be applied with caution and objectivity, particularly when political rivalry could be influencing the dispute. Based on these observations, the Supreme Court set aside the Gauhati High Court’s refusal of anticipatory bail.

The case stems from a press conference where Khera allegedly made claims regarding the Assam Chief Minister’s wife, including allegations about passports and financial dealings—claims that the Sarma family has strongly denied, calling them "fabricated". The matter continues to remain under investigation, with the Supreme Court stressing that its order is meant to ensure liberty while allowing a fair probe to proceed.

Also Read: Gauhati High Court Reserves Order On Pawan Khera’s Anticipatory Bail In Assam Case