Supreme Court Declines Congress Leader Pawan Khera’s Plea To Extend Transit Anticipatory Bail In Assam FIR
The Supreme Court of India recently declined Congress leader Pawan Khera’s plea to extend his transit anticipatory bail related to an FIR filed in Assam. This decision leaves him without immediate protection from arrest until he approaches the appropriate court in Assam.
Case Background
The FIR stems from allegations of forgery and criminal conspiracy, lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, against Khera over claims she held multiple foreign passports. Initially, the Telangana High Court granted Khera a one-week transit anticipatory bail on April 10, 2026, allowing him time to seek relief in the competent jurisdiction.
Supreme Court Proceedings
On April 15, the Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order, expressing surprise at the jurisdictional overreach. Khera then sought to vacate the stay and extend bail until Tuesday (April 21) due to the Assam court’s weekend closure, but a bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar refused on April 17. The bench directed him to file for anticipatory bail in Assam immediately, noting courts can convene urgently if needed, and clarified prior observations won’t influence Assam proceedings.
Khera now risks arrest pending his Assam application, highlighting jurisdictional limits on transit bail outside the FIR’s locus. Assam had challenged the Telangana order in the Supreme Court, underscoring inter-state legal tensions.
