The court also instructed him to cooperate with the investigation and make himself available for questioning as required
KRC TIMES Assam Bureau
Guwahati: The Assam government has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the interim relief granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera by the Telangana High Court in a defamation case linked to remarks against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to officials, the state filed its plea on April 12 through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, seeking to set aside the high court’s April 10 order granting Khera one week of transit anticipatory bail. The matter is likely to be listed for hearing later this week.
Khera is facing charges in a case registered by the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to defamation and harm to reputation. The case stems from alleged remarks made by the Congress leader against Sarma.
In its order, the Telangana High Court granted limited protection to Khera, directing that in the event of arrest, he be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond. The court also instructed him to cooperate with the investigation and make himself available for questioning as required.
The high court noted that the petitioner had established a reasonable apprehension of arrest based on supported allegations, thereby justifying interim protection. However, it imposed conditions, including that Khera must not leave the country without prior permission from a competent court.
The court further observed that Khera retains the option to seek appropriate legal remedies before courts in Assam, where the case is under jurisdiction. It also cautioned that public statements by a person of his stature could potentially influence the course of the investigation.
Khera had moved the Telangana High Court citing his residence in Hyderabad and seeking transit anticipatory bail to avoid immediate arrest in connection with the Assam case.
With the Assam government now contesting the relief before the apex court, the legal battle is set to shift to the Supreme Court, where the validity and scope of the interim protection will come under scrutiny.
