Congress leader Pawan Khera has approached the Telangana High Court seeking interim protection from arrest in a case registered by the Assam Police over allegations of defamation, forgery and criminal conspiracy linked to his recent claims against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family.The plea, listed for hearing before Justice K Sujana on Thursday, seeks transit anticipatory bail to allow Khera to move a competent court in Assam. The development comes amid a sharp political exchange ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, with the case drawing attention over issues of jurisdiction, arrest protection and inter-state criminal proceedings.According to the petition, Khera has sought interim relief on the ground that immediate arrest would impede his ability to pursue legal remedies in the appropriate forum. The case against him was registered after he alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, holds multiple foreign passports and possesses undisclosed overseas assets.Khera, in a video message on social media, on Wednesday reiterated his allegations, calling for an independent probe into purported foreign holdings linked to the Assam Chief Minister’s family in jurisdictions including the US, the UK and Dubai. He also raised questions regarding the citizenship status of Riniki Sarma, citing documents he claims are linked to business entities abroad.Describing the police action at his Delhi residence as an attempt to curb dissent, Khera alleged that a large team of Assam Police personnel conducted a search in his absence and seized electronic devices, including a laptop and other personal items. He said such actions were intended to deter him from raising questions concerning alleged financial and business links overseas.He further claimed that records from the US state of Wyoming indicate Riniki Sarma’s association with a company, Bhuyan Properties LLC, and alleged that documents mention a foreign nationality. He also referred to purported business connections in London, Utah, Dubai and Bangladesh, and questioned whether any special residency permits or “golden visas” were obtained in foreign jurisdictions.Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the shameless attack on Khera by the BJP only speaks of their arrogance and guilt. “Every Congress person, indeed every Indian who believes in our Constitution and understands that raising questions and challenging power is the basis of a strong democracy stands by him as his home is ransacked and he is hunted down by a Chief Minister who has lost his moral right to govern,” she said.