The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case linked to allegations of forgery and defamation involving remarks against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

The relief comes after the top court set aside an earlier order of the Gauhati High Court, which had denied him protection from arrest. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar delivered the decision after hearing arguments from both sides and reserving its verdict a day earlier.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Khera, argued that custodial arrest in the case was unnecessary. He maintained that the charges invoked were largely bailable and questioned the need for arrest, saying that investigation could proceed without taking Khera into custody. Singhvi also contended that personal liberty should not be treated as a “privilege” but as a fundamental right.

He further alleged that the case was driven by political pressure, claiming that multiple accusations such as absconding and evidence tampering had been added without adequate basis.

On the other side, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, opposed the plea and stressed the seriousness of the allegations. He argued that the case involves the alleged creation of forged documents and that custodial interrogation was necessary to identify the source, possible accomplices, and the wider implications of the case.

The case originates from a complaint filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma after Khera made public allegations regarding multiple passports and foreign assets. The issue had escalated into a political flashpoint, drawing sharp reactions from both sides.

With the Supreme Court now granting anticipatory bail, Khera has secured protection from immediate arrest, while the investigation in the matter is expected to continue under legal scrutiny.