“Am I a terrorist?”: Pawan Khera faces setback as Supreme Court declines interim relief

Pawan Khera suffered another setback from the Supreme Court of India on Friday, as the court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest in connection with a case registered in Assam. The decision leaves the Congress leader vulnerable to coercive action, with the court making it clear that no such protection will operate at least until Tuesday.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued on behalf of Khera, urging the court to grant immediate relief and prevent arrest at this stage. However, the Bench was not convinced and declined to intervene, maintaining that such relief should be sought through appropriate legal channels.

Instead, the Bench directed Khera to approach the competent court in Assam and file an application for anticipatory bail without delay. The court emphasised that the matter falls within the jurisdiction where the case has been registered and that the Assam court is the appropriate forum to consider his plea.

In a significant observation, the Supreme Court clarified that any remarks made during the hearing should not influence the Assam court’s decision. It stressed that the bail application must be decided independently on its own merits, ensuring a fair and unbiased process despite the top court’s refusal to grant interim protection.

The case stems from an FIR filed by Assam Police following a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma. The complaint relates to statements made by Khera alleging that Sharma possessed multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas assets—claims she has strongly denied as false and defamatory. With no interim relief from the apex court, Khera now faces mounting pressure to secure anticipatory bail from the Assam court.