Guwahati, April 24 -- Observing that the case goes beyond the realm of simple defamation and discloses a prima facie offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Gauhati High Court on Friday refused to grant anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera.

The court held that custodial interrogation is necessary to uncover the origin and authenticity of the documents relied upon by him and to identify the persons involved in their procurement.

Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia, while rejecting the plea, noted that the allegations made by Khera during a press conference in Guwahati regarding Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, were based on documents which, according to the investigation so far, app...