Congress Leader Pawan Khera Downplays BJP's Lead in Bengal Election Trends Pawan Khera, a senior Congress leader, cautioned against interpreting early election trends as definitive results, emphasizing the need for patience as the Bengal Assembly Election 2026 unfolded. Speaking to NDTV on May 4, 2026, Khera, who recently secured anticipatory bail in a case related to alleged remarks against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma’s wife, described the BJP’s lead in the state as “trends, not results.” He reiterated that political actors should avoid premature conclusions, stating, “Too early to celebrate or moan,” and urged analysis only after the full results were available. At 11 am on the day of the results, the BJP was reported to be leading in 181 seats, while the Trinamool Congress held 110. Khera, who heads the Congress’ Publicity Department, remained noncommittal about the party’s performance, stressing that “these are very early trends” and that any post-mortem on the election outcomes would be premature. When asked about the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) lead in Kerala, he maintained his stoic stance, refusing to speculate on the implications for his party. The election results also highlighted unexpected developments in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), making its political debut, surged to 110 seats. This shift pushed the DMK to third place, challenging the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in the southern state. Khera, when questioned about the Congress’ decision not to align with Vijay’s party, avoided direct criticism, instead advising against “any post-mortem” on the party’s strategy. He declined to address potential mistakes made by the Congress in the lead-up to the polls, focusing instead on the fluidity of the election outcomes.#bjp #trinamool_congress #udf #pawan_khera #tamil_nagaland
Supreme Court Grants Pawan Khera Bail | Assam CM Wife Passport Row The Supreme Court of India on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The case centers on claims that Sarma's wife, Rinku Bhuyan, possesses three foreign passports and owns a U.S.-based company worth 50 billion dollars, which was not disclosed in her election affidavit. Khera, who accused Sarma's wife of financial misconduct, had earlier filed a press conference in Delhi and Guwahati on April 5, presenting evidence of the alleged discrepancies. Following Khera's allegations, Rinku Bhuyan filed a First Information Report (FIR) in Guwahati against him. On April 7, Assam police conducted a raid at Khera's Delhi residence. The Supreme Court, during its hearing on the bail application, noted that the allegations and counter-allegations appeared to be influenced by political dynamics. However, the court mandated that Khera cooperate with the Assam police investigation and warned against leaving India without judicial approval. Congress leaders Jayaram Ramesh and Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the police action, stating that 60 officers were deployed to Khera's home solely to intimidate him. They argued that the move was an attempt to suppress dissent and undermine the rule of law. In a separate press conference, Congress claimed that the Supreme Court had effectively "censored" the Assam CM by limiting his response to three pages, while numerous other issues remained unaddressed. They urged the CM to reflect on whether a constitutional position should be used to tarnish a woman's reputation. Sarma responded on social media, asserting that he had no need to learn about democracy from anyone.#assam #supreme_court_of_india #himanta_biswa_sarma #pawan_khera #rinku_bhuyan
Pawan Khera Gets Anticipatory Bail with Conditions The Supreme Court granted Congress leader Pawan Khera anticipatory bail under specific conditions, allowing him to remain free but requiring him to cooperate with the investigation, appear at the police station when summoned, and avoid tampering with evidence. The court also ordered that Khera cannot leave the country without prior approval. The bail conditions were imposed amid allegations that Khera made defamatory remarks against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rinku Bhuyan. The court’s decision came after a heated hearing on Thursday, where both sides presented strong arguments. Khera’s senior lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, described the case as "unprecedented" and criticized the prosecution for its approach. Singhvi accused the legal team representing Sarma of using "vulgar language" and claimed that the allegations against Khera were politically motivated. He argued that the charges of defamation and damage to reputation were baseless and that no arrest or interrogation was necessary. Sarma’s legal team, led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, countered by asserting that Khera’s statements, which included claims about Rinku Bhuyan possessing passports from three countries and engaging in illegal activities, warranted further investigation. Mehta emphasized the need to trace the sources of the documents Khera presented to support his allegations, including claims of assets in Dubai linked to a U.S.-based company. He also highlighted the risk of Khera fleeing the country, citing a previous High Court ruling that deemed him a flight risk due to "fraud and conspiracy" charges.#abhishek_manu_singhvi #himanta_biswa_sarma #pawan_khera #rinku_bhuyan #tushar_mehta
Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Pawan Khera In Assam Police FIR The Supreme Court of India granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to an FIR filed by Assam police. The court’s decision came after a hearing on April 30, 2026, presided over by a bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar. The court reviewed arguments from both sides before issuing its order, emphasizing the protection of individual liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The bail was granted under strict conditions. Khera must appear at the police station whenever summoned, refrain from tampering with evidence, and avoid leaving the country without prior judicial approval. The court also mandated that the trial court may impose additional conditions as needed. Furthermore, the court clarified that the evidence and facts cited during the bail consideration are unrelated to the final verdict of the case. The case stems from an FIR filed against Khera, who was accused of making false allegations against Hima Bhuyan, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera had claimed that Bhuyan possessed multiple passports and held assets abroad. The police had registered the FIR based on these allegations, leading to Khera’s arrest and subsequent legal challenges. Khera had previously sought anticipatory bail from lower courts, including the Assam High Court and the Gauhati High Court, but his applications were rejected. The Supreme Court’s intervention followed a directive from the Telangana High Court, which had initially granted him a one-week transit bail, which the Supreme Court later overturned. The court’s order highlights the balance between individual rights and the need for thorough legal scrutiny.#supreme_court_of_india #himanta_biswa_sarma #assam_police #pawan_khera #himima_bhuyan
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
