The Telangana High Court on Friday extended interim protection to Congress leader Pawan Khera, granting him transit anticipatory bail for a limited period of one week in connection with an FIR lodged by the Assam Police alleging forgery and criminal conspiracy.The order was passed by Justice K Sujana, who directed that the relief would enable Khera to approach the competent court having jurisdiction over the case for regular anticipatory bail within the stipulated time.Recording the submission, the court clarified that the petitioner has been given a week’s window to seek appropriate legal remedy before the forum concerned, effectively insulating him from coercive action during this period.The case stems from allegations of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy levelled by Assam Police after Khera publicly claimed that the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, possessed multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas assets. These assertions triggered the registration of the FIR.The Assam Police had visited Khera’s Delhi residence earlier this week, but he was not present at the time. Subsequently, he moved the Telangana High Court seeking transit protection from arrest.Appearing on his behalf, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the invocation of multiple penal provisions was excessive and indicative of political targeting.He submitted that the allegations arise from statements made during a press conference and do not warrant custodial action. Singhvi further contended that the inclusion of a wide array of offences reflected an attempt to intimidate a political opponent rather than pursue a bona fide criminal case, cautioning that such measures undermine democratic dissent.On the other hand, Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia opposed the plea, questioning the maintainability of the petition before the Telangana High Court. He pointed out that Khera was a resident of Delhi, while the case had been registered in Assam, and asserted that there was no impediment preventing him from presenting himself before the authorities in Assam.Saikia maintained that there was no threat perception warranting transit protection and dismissed any suggestion that the state machinery would act arbitrarily.