The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, in a defamation and forgery case filed by the Assam Police. The case arose after Khera made allegations against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar noted that the allegations appeared politically motivated, especially given the context of the ongoing election period. The court emphasized the significance of personal liberty, stating that any deprivation of liberty must be justified under a higher threshold, particularly when political factors are involved. The Supreme Court's decision overturned an earlier ruling by the Gauhati High Court, which had denied Khera relief. The court set conditions for Khera's bail, including cooperation with the investigation and restrictions on leaving India. The FIR against Khera includes serious charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, such as defamation and forgery.