New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, stayed the one-week transit anticipatory bail granted by Telangana High Court to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case registered against him by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
The bench of Justice J K Maheshwari and Justice Atul S Chandurkar also issued notice to Khera seeking a response within three weeks on a plea filed by the Assam government, as reported by ANI.
In case Khera wants to apply for anticipatory bail in Assam, Wednesday’s apex court order would not come in the way, the bench noted.
“Issue notice. Meanwhile, the impugned order should be stayed. In case the petitioner applies for anticipatory bail before the court having jurisdiction in Assam, and while deciding such an application, the order passed today will not have any effect. Issue notice. Returnable in three weeks,” the Court noted.
The Assam Police had approached the Supreme Court against the Telangana High Court’s decision to grant transit anticipatory bail for a period of one week from April 10, subject to conditions.
Khera has to approach the competent jurisdictional Court in Assam and seek appropriate relief in accordance with the law, the bail order said.
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma had registered the case against Khera after he made allegations against her regarding passport and property disclosures.
Khera had alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, holds three passports, from India, the UAE, and Egypt, and owns undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, along with a company in Wyoming, USA.
While strongly denying these allegations, the Sarma family has called the documents “AI-generated fabrications” circulated by Pakistani social media groups.
Sarma had earlier vowed stern action, stating: “Before levelling an allegation, he should have asked the Foreign Minister. Kharge ji has aged, yet he speaks like a madman. Assam Police can find and bring people from ‘pataal’ as well. I suspect Rahul Gandhi has given him these documents. So this case will extend to Rahul Gandhi. Do not try to scare us. This is Assam, and we have fought against Islamic invasion 17 times.”
