The Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order granting transit anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera in a defamation and forgery case registered by the Assam Police.

A Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.S. Chandurkar noted submissions by SG Tushar Mehta that Khera had relied on his wife’s Aadhaar details to invoke the jurisdiction of the Telangana High Court, despite the alleged offence being registered in Guwahati. The Court observed that the use of such documents prima facie raised concerns of misuse of jurisdiction.

Staying the High Court’s order, the Bench issued notice and clarified that if Khera approaches the competent court in Assam for anticipatory bail, the present order will not prejudice his case.

The matter will be heard next after three weeks.