Congress targets Himanta after SC relief to Khera; Assam CM vows further probe

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi described Sarma's statements as 'unrepeatable, unprintable, unstatable', argued that arrest should be a last resort in reputational cases, noted that nine of the 11 charged sections were bail-able offences, and remarked that the Supreme Court upheld the presumption of innocence while the breadth of the charges was questioned.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X that the Supreme Court had granted interim protection, said the Assam Police would continue its investigation, and criticized the allegations against Sarma's wife as politically motivated with forged documents; he asserted the guilty would be punished and called this just the beginning.

The Congress urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reconsider his stand in the case against Pawan Khera, arguing that the verdict timing should not prevent a genuine reassessment of his position as reflected in the judgement.

The Supreme Court granted Pawan Khera interim protection from arrest after he challenged the Gauhati High Court's April 24 order; the bench noted the dispute appeared to carry political overtones.

The Gauhati High Court denied Pawan Khera anticipatory bail, in connection with charges of forgery, cheating and criminal defamation.

A judicial magistrate issued an order on April 7 describing the claim for Pawan Khera's arrest as 'speculative, without foundation and fanciful'.