The Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order granting one-week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.
A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar heard the plea filed by the Assam government challenging the High Court’s order. The judges issued notice and directed that the Telangana High Court’s order remain stayed. They clarified that if Khera approaches a court in Assam seeking anticipatory bail, the stay will not affect consideration of his application.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam Police, argued that the Telangana High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction since the FIR was registered in Guwahati. He described the move as a forum selection and insisted that Khera had not shown any inability to approach courts in Assam.
The bench noted submissions regarding Khera’s address and jurisdiction. Mehta referred to Aadhaar details to dispute claims of residence in Hyderabad, stressing that property ownership or intermittent presence cannot establish jurisdiction for anticipatory bail.
The Telangana High Court had earlier granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for one week, enabling him to seek relief from the competent court. The case stems from allegations made by Khera about multiple passports and foreign assets allegedly linked to Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, which authorities rejected as false.
The Supreme Court has now sought responses from Khera and other parties. The matter will return for a hearing after three weeks.
