Congress leader Pawan Kheda has received a shock from the Supreme Court. The Telangana High Court order granting him interim bail has been stayed. The Supreme Court has asked Kheda to file an application for bail in the Assam court.
What is the matter?
Congress spokesperson Pawan Kheda, in a press conference in Guwahati, had made allegations against Rinki Bhuyan, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He had claimed that the CM’s wife has passports of three countries. Rinki Bhuiyan complained to the police regarding this and a case was registered. Assam Police reached Pawan Kheda’s house in Delhi, but he was not found there. Later he obtained 1 week anticipatory bail from Telangana High Court.
Assam government reached Supreme Court
The Assam government approached the Supreme Court opposing the order of the Telangana High Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, raised the issue of jurisdiction. He said that it was not made clear in Kheda’s petition as to why he had come to the Telangana High Court. Nevertheless the High Court heard his petition. Both the crime and the FIR took place in Assam. Kheda lives in Delhi. In such a situation, there is no basis for intervention of Telangana High Court.
Mehta termed Kheda’s action as ‘forum shopping’ i.e. an attempt to get hearing in the court of his choice. He said that the process of law has been misused in the case. A person cannot choose the court of his choice by renting a house in any state. Mehta said that Khera showed the Hyderabad address written on his wife’s Aadhaar card in the Telangana High Court. Whereas the truth is that his wife also lives in Delhi.
What did the Supreme Court say?
The case was heard by Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar. The judges agreed that legal principles and past decisions related to the jurisdiction of the High Court have been ignored in the case. Justice Maheshwari said that he has taken information about the matter. Kheda has once again filed an application in the Telangana High Court. He is demanding to extend the interim relief by 3 weeks. But this cannot be allowed. The case and FIR are from Assam. Therefore, Kheda should approach the Assam court for anticipatory bail.
hearing after 3 weeks
The Supreme Court issued notice to Pawan Kheda on the petition of the Assam government and asked for the next hearing after 3 weeks. The judges said that if Kheda files an application for anticipatory bail in the Assam court, then its hearing should be based on the facts of the case. The local court should hear their application without being influenced by the order of the Supreme Court.
Also read – Shock to Pawan Kheda, Supreme Court stays High Court’s order granting interim bail