New Delhi, May 1 -- The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a forgery and defamation case linked to allegations of making false statements against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

A bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar, on Thursday, observed that the allegations and counter-allegations in the case were prima facie politically motivated and seemingly influenced by such political rivalry, rather than disclosing a situation warranting custodial interrogation. The Court further noted that the veracity of the allegations can be examined during the course of the trial.

"In our view, the observations as made by the High Court in the order impugned ...