Supreme Court Grants Bail to Pawan Khera in Defamation Case

The Supreme Court of India granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera on May 1, 2026, overturning a previous denial by the Gauhati High Court. Khera faced charges of forgery and defamation after alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, possessed multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas assets.

A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar ruled that the allegations and counter-allegations appeared prima facie to be politically motivated by rivalry. The court stated that the right to personal liberty must be protected and that the criminal process should not be used for political vendetta, concluding that custodial interrogation was not warranted. The court ordered Khera's release upon arrest provided he cooperates with investigators, does not tamper with evidence, and does not leave India without permission.

The Indian National Congress hailed the verdict as a victory for the Constitution and the rule of law. Congress representative Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized Chief Minister Sarma's conduct and urged him to express regret. Himanta Biswa Sarma rejected these calls, asserting that Khera used forged documents to assassinate his wife's character to influence electoral outcomes. Sarma maintained that the investigation by the Assam Police would continue, stating that the court's decision was just the beginning and not the end of the legal process.