Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera's anticipatory bail plea in a case linked to his allegations that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed foreign properties.
A single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia dismissed the application filed earlier this week. Khera had approached the Supreme Court, which directed him to seek relief from the Gauhati High Court.
The high court had on Tuesday reserved its order on the plea. Assam Police have registered an FIR against Khera and had visited his New Delhi residence on April 7 but did not find him.
Following the allegations, the chief minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, filed criminal complaints against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for a week on April 10, observing that his apprehension of arrest was reasonable and allowing him to approach the appropriate court.
The Assam government challenged this before the Supreme Court, which on April 15 stayed the transit bail. The apex court later declined to vacate the stay or grant further relief, after which Khera moved the Gauhati High Court.
On April 7, the court of chief judicial officer of Kamrup Metro had rejected Assam Police's plea for issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Khera in the case.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is campaigning in West Bengal, said he would not comment on the matter as the Model Code of Conduct is in place. "Whatever the outcome of the case will be, it is entirely up to the Assam Police. I will review the case only after May 4 when the counting is over".
A single bench of Justice Parthiv Jyoti Saikia dismissed the application filed earlier this week. Khera had approached the Supreme Court, which directed him to seek relief from the Gauhati High Court.
The high court had on Tuesday reserved its order on the plea. Assam Police have registered an FIR against Khera and had visited his New Delhi residence on April 7 but did not find him.
Following the allegations, the chief minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, filed criminal complaints against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted Khera transit anticipatory bail for a week on April 10, observing that his apprehension of arrest was reasonable and allowing him to approach the appropriate court.
The Assam government challenged this before the Supreme Court, which on April 15 stayed the transit bail. The apex court later declined to vacate the stay or grant further relief, after which Khera moved the Gauhati High Court.
On April 7, the court of chief judicial officer of Kamrup Metro had rejected Assam Police's plea for issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Khera in the case.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is campaigning in West Bengal, said he would not comment on the matter as the Model Code of Conduct is in place. "Whatever the outcome of the case will be, it is entirely up to the Assam Police. I will review the case only after May 4 when the counting is over".
