New Delh

The Assam government has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Telangana High Court order granting one-week transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to remarks about Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.

The petition, filed on Sunday through advocate Shuvodeep Roy, is expected to come up for hearing later this week.

On April 10, the Telangana High Court granted Khera temporary relief for one week, allowing him time to approach the appropriate court in Assam for regular legal remedies.

While granting relief, the high court said it was not expressing any view on the merits of the matter, but found that Khera had shown a reasonable apprehension of arrest supported by available material.

The court directed that in the event of arrest, Khera be released on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties of the same amount. It also asked him to cooperate with investigators, remain available for questioning, and not leave the country without prior court permission.

Additional conditions required Khera to approach the competent court in Assam within the stipulated period and, as a public figure, to avoid making further public statements that could affect the investigation.

The case stems from allegations made by Khera on April 5, when he claimed that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple passports and foreign property that were allegedly not disclosed in the chief minister’s election affidavit ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections.

Following the remarks, a case was registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to false statements connected with elections and cheating.

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Khera had moved the Telangana High Court on April 7, listing a residential address in Hyderabad, and sought protection from arrest.