Passport row: Pawan Khera gets 1-week relief in case filed by Assam CM Himanta Sarma’s wife

While granting the transit anticipatory bail for a limited period, the court said Khera must not tamper with the evidence or attempt to influence witnesses in any manner, or directly or indirectly induce, threaten, or promise any person acquainted with the facts of the case. He can’t leave the country without the court’s prior permission. The court also asked him to approach the competent jurisdictional court in Assam and seek appropriate relief in accordance with the law within the stipulated period.

While Pawan Khera had alleged “political vendetta” and “ulterior motive” behind the complaint and termed the FIR a tool to silence, harass and intimidate him, the respondent Assam Police objected to the petition on the ground of maintainability, since the FIR was registered in Assam, the accused was a permanent resident of Delhi, and the anticipatory bail plea was filed in Telangana.

However, the court held that the concept of transit anticipatory bail has evolved to address such situations where immediate protection is required to enable the accused to avail appropriate remedies before the competent jurisdictional court.

The case stems from a press conference held by Khera on April 4, 2026, in which he alleged that the wife of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma holds three passports from different nations and claimed that Sarma was involved in various illegal activities.

An FIR was registered against him by the Guwahati Crime Branch on April 5, and his residence in Delhi was searched by the police on April 7. The same day, Khera moved a criminal petition before the Telangana High Court, seeking anticipatory bail.