Anticipatory Relief Sought: Pawan Khera Knocks on Telangana High Court Doors Against Assam Police Action
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Hyderabad, April 8, 2026 – In a bold judicial manoeuvre amid escalating political tensions, Congress leader Pawan Khera has approached the Telangana High Court, urgently seeking interim protection from arrest by the Assam Police.
The petition, filed in the shadow of a stringent FIR accusing him of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, underscores a deepening rift between the opposition Congress and the BJP-led Assam government.
The case stems from Khera’s provocative allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, claiming that the CM’s wife, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma, holds multiple passports and conceals undisclosed assets abroad.
These statements, which Khera maintains are rooted in public interest disclosures, prompted Assam Police to register an FIR at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.
The charges invoke a litany of provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 175: False statement in connection with an election
- Sections 35, 36, 318: Cheating
- Section 338: Forgery of valuable will, security, etc.
- Section 337: Forgery of record of court or public register
- Section 340: Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
- Section 352: Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
- Section 356: Defamation
Khera’s plea astutely requests transit anticipatory bail, a procedural safeguard enabling him to approach competent courts in Assam without the peril of immediate custody.
Khera is represented by Advocate Poonam Ashok Goud
This strategic filing in Telangana where Khera claims jurisdictional ties invokes the high court’s powers under Article 226 of the Constitution to pre-empt what he terms a “politically motivated” arrest.
According to multiple media reports, Assam Police intensified their pursuit on Tuesday, raiding Khera’s residence in Delhi, only to find him absent.
The development has fuelled accusations of overreach, with Congress spokespersons decrying it as an assault on dissent and journalistic scrutiny of public figures.
As Chairman of the Congress’s Media and Publicity Department and a key member of the party’s Working Committee, Khera occupies a pivotal role in shaping the opposition’s narrative.
His legal battle now tests the boundaries of federal policing powers versus individual liberties, echoing broader concerns over the weaponization of law in India’s polarized political landscape.
The Telangana High Court, under Justice K. Sujana, has listed the matter for hearing on Thursday, promising a critical judicial lens on the interplay of free speech, electoral integrity, and interstate enforcement.
Legal observers anticipate arguments cantering on procedural fairness, the veracity of Khera’s claims, and the proportionality of the Assam Police’s response.
This unfolding saga not only spotlights Khera’s personal stakes but also reignites debates on accountability for leaders’ kin amid allegations of opacity in public life.
