Bail Plea Hearing Ends in Khera Case, Verdict Friday (Image Source: Internet)
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court, this evening, after hearing arguments in the AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail application, reserved the judgment for Friday. The bail application was filed in a criminal complaint by the Assam Chief Minister's wife.
This case was heard in the morning and later adjourned to the afternoon, where arguments continued for an hour.
Pawan Khera was represented by noted lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, who argued that Khera is a senior leader of a party and criticism in any form is part of political life. Singhvi questioned how a person could be arrested in a personal prestige case and stated that 100 police personnel were sent to his residence for arrest.
On the other hand, Assam Police was represented by Devjit Saikia, who argued that the scope of this case does not belong to the Hyderabad High Court. He questioned how Pawan Khera could argue his case from Hyderabad and what his connection to the city was, noting that Khera’s Aadhaar card address is in Delhi. Singhvi replied that Khera’s wife belongs to Hyderabad and that he has a house there.
It may be recalled that Pawan Khera on Wednesday night moved the Hyderabad High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed in Guwahati in connection with his allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife.
In his petition for anticipatory bail, Pawan Khera stated that he is a law-abiding citizen with no criminal antecedents and holds a responsible position in the Congress party as a spokesperson. He expressed willingness to cooperate in the case and requested pre-arrest bail. Khera mentioned his residential address in Hyderabad and sought bail in the event of his arrest.
Khera accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of “unleashing” the state police on him instead of responding to questions raised by the Opposition over alleged foreign investments and multiple passports linked to his wife Riniki Sharma.
The police action followed a criminal complaint by the Chief Minister's entrepreneur wife, Riniki Sharma, alleging that the Congress had used forged and fake documents to target her.
The case was registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station against Pawan Khera under several sections of the BNS, including 175 (false statement in connection with an election), 35 (right of private defence of body and property), and 318 (cheating).
