The Gauhati High Court has rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera's anticipatory bail plea in connection with an FIR lodged by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
The FIR was filed over Khera's allegations that Sharma held passports issued by the UAE and Egypt, and owned undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai as well as a company in the United States.
Khera's lawyer, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that the remarks made by the Chief Minister pointed to 'political vendetta' and that the petitioner was not a 'flight risk.'
The case was registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including false statement in connection with an election, cheating, forgery of valuable security or will, and defamation.
BJP spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawala attacked Khera following the high court order, alleging that the party was targeting Assam and had resorted to misinformation.
