New Delhi

In a setback to Pawan Khera, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday stayed the Telangana High Court order granting him one-week transit anticipatory bail in a case linked to allegations against Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife.

A bench of Justices J. K. Maheshwari and A. S. Chandurkar issued notice to Khera and others, seeking responses to the plea filed by the Government of Assam challenging the High Court order.

Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Assam government, argued that Khera approaching the Telangana High Court in a case registered in Assam amounted to a “complete abuse of process” and was a case of “forum choosing”.

While issuing notice, the apex court ordered that the operation of the High Court’s order would remain stayed.

The matter has been listed for hearing after three weeks.

On April 10, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera one-week transit anticipatory bail with certain conditions, allowing him time to seek relief before the competent court in Assam.

At a press conference on April 5, Khera had alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple passports and foreign property that were not declared in the chief minister’s election affidavit for the April 9 Assam Assembly polls.

The Sarmas denied the allegations, calling them false and fabricated.

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The case against Khera was registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 175 (false statement in connection with an election), 35, and 318 (cheating).