In a fast-escalating political flashpoint ahead of the April 9 polls, a joint team of Assam Police and Delhi Police knocked on the doors of Congress leader Pawan Khera's home on Tuesday, a day after an FIR was filed against him by the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A four-member Assam Police team, who were informed in advance, arrived at Khera’s Nizamuddin residence for questioning. Delhi Police assisted with the operation. Khera was not at home, and the team remained at the residence awaiting his return for questioning.
According to sources, some "incriminating material" was recovered during a search. Meanwhile, with Khera AWOL, Himanta Sarma jibed that the Congress leader had "fled to Hyderabad".
Congress was immediately up in arms. Reacting to the development on X, Karnataka Minister Karti Chidambaram likened the Assam Police to a "private militia".
Jairam Ramesh, the party communications in-charge, came out in support of Khera, labelling the police action against him a witch-hunt and slamming Himanta Sarma as a "bully".
"The deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest my colleague Pawan Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is disturbed, desperate, and rattled," he wrote.
The police action follows Khera’s press conference where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held three foreign passports, from UAE, Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, and owned properties in Dubai along with assets linked to companies in Wyoming.
“According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does Riniki Bhuyan Sharma also hold an Indian passport?” Khera asked.
He also questioned, “Is Himanta Biswa Sarma the adopted son of Amit Shah? And did the country’s Home Minister know that his adopted son’s wife holds three passports?”
FIR, LEGAL WARNING AND PAKISTAN LINK CLAIM
Responding sharply, Himanta Biswa Sarma said his wife had filed an FIR and warned of serious legal consequences.
“When you raise an issue with fraudulent documents, it attracts 420 and 468. When used to influence an election, the punishment is life imprisonment,” he said.
He alleged that the Congress material was sourced externally.
“During our research, we found that the entire material of the press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group.”
“In the last 10 days, Pakistan channel has done at least 11 talk shows on Assam elections Pakistan’s link has become very apparent,” he added.
RINIKI BHUYAN SHARMA: ‘HOW CAN I HAVE THREE PASSPORTS?’
In an interaction, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma firmly denied the allegations.
When asked if she has a dual passport. She replied, “No. How can I have three passports?”
“India is the only country that doesn’t allow dual citizenship,” she added.
Dismissing claims of wealth and foreign assets, she said, “These are all fake allegations. These are all AI generated.”
On Dubai property claims, she said, “They have given a room number in a hotel. What kind of property is that? If I had property, I would buy a house.”
‘TARGETING MY FAMILY, NOT POLITICS’
She said her family was being dragged into politics.
“For the last two years, they have been doing everything to defame me, my daughter, my son. We are nowhere related to politics,” she said.
“I am not a politician. I don’t comment on politics. When fake people come against me, I will defend.”
On tea garden allegations, she pushed back, saying critics should verify facts about salaries and ownership before making claims.
GOGOI ESCALATES WITH OATH CHALLENGE
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi intensified the attack, challenging Sarma publicly.
“I can say under oath on the Bhagavad Gita that I don’t have property in London. Can he do that?” Gogoi said.
He asked whether Sarma’s family held a Dubai golden visa, owned foreign property, or had business interests abroad, and called for a probe.
CM REJECTS ‘FAKE PASSPORT’, CITES DISCREPANCIES
Sarma said the passport cited in the allegations had already been verified as fake.
“Confirmation has been received from a Dubai government website that the passport is fake,” he said.
He pointed to inconsistencies: “Can ‘India’ be a place of birth? It should be Jorhat or Guwahati. It’s error upon error.”
He also dismissed claims of Rs 52,000 crore assets.
“The entire budget of Assam isn’t even Rs 52,000 crore. That’s basic common sense,” he said.
CAMPAIGN TURNS PERSONAL AHEAD OF APRIL 9 POLLS
The row has intensified just days before Assam votes on April 9, with both sides trading allegations over passports, foreign assets, and personal attacks involving family members.
With police action underway and rhetoric sharpening, the controversy has become a central battleground in the election campaign.
Source:- Indiatoday
