Congress leader Pawan Khera has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest after the Gauhati High Court refused anticipatory bail in a criminal case lodged by the Assam Police over allegations of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy.The petition places before the top court a contentious mix of political speech, the alleged use of forged material and the extent to which criminal law can be invoked for statements made at a press conference, particularly when they concern a Chief Minister’s family member.In its April 24 order, the High Court declined to grant Khera pre-arrest relief, holding that custodial interrogation was necessary at this stage of the investigation.The FIR, registered by the Crime Branch in Guwahati, relates to remarks made by Khera targeting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife, Riniki Bhuyan, alleging that she held multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad.Investigators have alleged that the claims were backed by documents whose authenticity is under question, prompting the addition of forgery-related offences alongside defamation and criminal conspiracy.Police teams had reached Khera’s Delhi residence on April 7, but he was not found there, triggering a series of legal moves across jurisdictions.