An Assam Police team arrived at Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence in Delhi on Tuesday, with assistance from the Delhi Police.
The action followed remarks made by Khera at a recent press conference, where he alleged that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, possessed three passports.
He had also circulated images of documents that he claimed indicated ownership of properties in the UAE and a company registered in Wyoming, USA, which he said were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s affidavit, Indian Express reported.
After these claims, Bhuyan Sarma filed a complaint, leading to a case being registered against Khera by the Assam Police’s Crime Branch. According to DCP Crime Debajit Nath, Khera was booked on charges including forgery.
The developments come just days before Assam heads to the Assembly polls on April 9.
At the time the police visited his residence, Khera was not present. Sarma stated that Khera had left Guwahati earlier and, based on media reports, had travelled to Hyderabad, adding that legal proceedings would take their course.
Responding to the allegations, Bhuyan Sarma said that the passport images circulated were fabricated using AI and editing tools. She accused Congress leaders of attempting to defame her and her family, claiming they had been targeted repeatedly despite having no involvement in politics.
Meanwhile, a Congress leader close to Khera said that his claims warranted an investigation, alleging that instead of examining the allegations, authorities had chosen to initiate police action, and added that Khera was not currently in Delhi.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh posted on X: “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. This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide. It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat.”