GUWAHATI, April 25: The Indian National Congress on April 25 expressed support for party leader Pawan Khera as he prepares to approach the Supreme Court of India following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Gauhati High Court.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, said the party stands firmly behind Khera and is confident of securing relief from the apex court. He described the case as one involving “threat, intimidation, and harassment” and asserted that justice would prevail.
“The entire Indian National Congress stands solidly in solidarity with Pawan Khera… The verdict of the Gauhati High Court is in the process of being challenged in the Supreme Court,” Ramesh stated.
The development comes a day after the Gauhati High Court declined to grant anticipatory bail to Khera, observing that the case extended beyond simple defamation and disclosed a prima facie offence under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court held that custodial interrogation was necessary to determine the origin and authenticity of the documents cited by the Congress leader and to identify those involved in their procurement.
Justice Borthakur Sakha, while rejecting the plea, noted that the allegations made by Khera during a press conference in Guwahati were based on documents that, according to the investigation so far, appeared to be false. The court observed that Khera had not substantiated his claims and had failed to establish the genuineness of the material relied upon.
The bench further stated that the matter “cannot be termed as one of defamation simpliciter”, citing sufficient grounds to indicate a prima facie case under Section 356 of the BNS. It also noted that Khera had not claimed that the documents were falsely attributed to him after the FIR was lodged, which, at this stage, added weight to the prosecution’s case.
The FIR was registered following Khera’s press conference on April 5 in Guwahati, where he made allegations concerning Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, including claims related to foreign citizenship and overseas financial interests. The allegations have been categorically denied.
The case is linked to a complaint filed by Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, and further legal proceedings are expected as Khera moves the Supreme Court.
