HYDERABAD: Telangana high court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Congress senior leader Pawan Khera in connection with a case registered against him over his alleged defamatory remarks against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sharma’s wife, Riniki Bhyan Sharma.
Disposing of the anticipatory bail petition, Justice K Sujana granted Khera relief for a week and directed him to approach the jurisdictional court ((in Assam) during this time. The court also directed Assam police to not take any coercive steps against him during this period.
When Khera’s counsel requested for more time, the Judge observed " he (Pawan Khera) is a great personality as he had filed an Anticipatory Bail application in the Telangana High Court (in connection with a case in Assam), got it numbered and listed for hearing within three days and the matter is even disposed off.”
On Thursday, Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Khera’s counsel Ponnam Ashok Goud, while Senior Standing Counsel, govt of Assam Devajit Saikia argued for Assam and presented arguments, following which the court reserved the matter for orders.
The case was registered in Assam after Khera, while addressing a press conference in Delhi on April 5, said that Riniki held multiple passports from foreign countries and also assets in foreign countries. He was accused of providing false information, forgery, cheating, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy.
Pinto Deepak - Legal Correspondent for The Times of India, Hydera...
Read MorePinto Deepak - Legal Correspondent for The Times of India, Hyderabad, covering Telangana High Court and Supreme Court matters related to the state. Formerly reported on crime in Telangana, including high-profile and violent cases in Hyderabad. Now focused on legal developments, constitutional issues, and judicial accountability in the state’s top courts.
Read Less