The Supreme Court of India has granted anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera, a prominent Congress leader, in a case concerning forgery and defamation linked to allegations made against Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam. The bench, comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar, observed that the allegations and counter-allegations seemed politically motivated rather than necessitating custodial interrogation. The court emphasized that the merits of the case would be evaluated independently during the trial. Khera is required to comply with the investigation and is prohibited from influencing witnesses or leaving the country without court permission. This decision follows a previous denial of bail by the Gauhati High Court and aims to ensure a fair judicial process.