Gauhati High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail for Pawan Khera in Defamation Case The Gauhati High Court on Friday denied a request for anticipatory bail filed by Congress leader Pawan Khera in a defamation case involving Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The court emphasized that the allegations against Sharma, a private individual, extended beyond defamation to include serious offenses such as forgery and cheating. The decision followed a review of the case’s legal framework and the nature of the accusations. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Khera, argued that the case was politically motivated and that the allegations against Sharma were fabricated to gain political advantage. He also questioned the necessity of custodial interrogation, asserting that the case did not warrant such measures. However, the court rejected these arguments, stating that Khera had not cooperated with the investigation and that the case was aimed at "furthering ends of justice." The court ordered custodial interrogation to verify the authenticity of the documents cited by Khera, including the source and associates involved in collecting them. The case originated from Khera’s claims during a press conference days before the Assam elections, where he alleged that Sharma held multiple passports and undisclosed overseas assets. Specifically, he accused her of possessing passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua-Barbuda, as well as two properties in Dubai and assets in shell companies. In response, Sharma filed a criminal complaint against Khera and others under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, defamation, forgery of valuable wills, and intentional insult.#abhishek_manu_singhvi #himanta_biswa_sarma #gauhati_high_court #pawan_khera #riniki_bhuyan_sharma
