On Friday, April 10, 2026, the Telangana High Court granted one week of anticipatory bail to Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera. The legal reprieve comes in response to a criminal case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, following Khera’s explosive allegations regarding her citizenship and assets.
The Legal Ruling
Justice K. Sujana issued the order, providing Khera with a one-week window of protection from arrest. The court directed him to use this time to approach the appropriate jurisdiction for further relief.
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The Defense: Represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Khera’s legal team argued that the FIR was a clear case of “political vendetta” and that the charges—which include forgery and cheating—were disproportionate to the act of making a political statement.
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The Prosecution: The Assam police, represented by Devajit Saikia, opposed the bail, labeling Khera a “flight risk.” They alleged he had evaded police at his Delhi residence by flying to Hyderabad, where he also maintains a home.
Core of the Controversy
The dispute began on April 5, 2026, when Khera held a press conference making several high-stakes claims:
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Multiple Passports: Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma illegally holds three passports—from India, the UAE, and Egypt (some reports also mentioned Antigua and Barbuda).
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Undisclosed Assets: He claimed she owns luxury properties in Dubai and a company in Wyoming, USA, valued at roughly $34.67 billion (₹52,000 crore), none of which were disclosed in CM Sarma’s election affidavits.
The FIR and Response
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma dismissed the claims as “fake and AI-generated fabrications” circulated by foreign social media groups. Following her complaint, the Guwahati Crime Branch registered an FIR under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
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Section 318: Cheating
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Sections 337, 338, & 340: Forgery of records and using forged documents as genuine
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Section 356: Defamation
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Section 175: False statements in connection with an election
“Assam Police can find and bring people from ‘paatal’ (the netherworld) as well.” — Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam CM
The Chief Minister has vowed stern action, suggesting that the investigation may extend to other senior Congress leaders, while Khera and the Congress party maintain that they are merely asking “basic questions in the public interest.”
