Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Assam Police on Tuesday carried out a search at Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence in connection with a case linked to allegation made by him against chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family.According to DCP Debojit Nath, Khera was not found at his residence. He, however, said that electronic devices were seized during the search.He also said that some “incriminating material” was also found at Khera’s residence without divulging into details.“The case has been registered at the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati,” the DCP said.“The whereabouts of the Congress leader are currently unknown, but he will be traced,” he added.The team formally informed Delhi Police upon arrival, following which a local police team joined in assisting in the proceedings, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.CM Sarma claimed that Khera has “run away” to Hyderabad, after daring the Assam police to arrest him.“Pawan Khera had dared the Assam Police to arrest him, but he has now run away to Hyderabad,” Sarma told PTI.“I don’t know why they have gone, as he (Khera) ran away yesterday itself. Till yesterday, Khera was saying that arrest me, and now when police reached his home, he ran away,” Sarma claimed.Meanwhile, Congress on sharpened its attack on Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging misuse of state machinery in the ongoing passport row.Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Ramesh said the move showed the chief minister was “disturbed, desperate, and rattled”In a post on X, he said, “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.”The controversy stems from a press conference by Khera, where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held three passports and owned undisclosed assets abroad. The Sarma family has rejected the claims, terming the documents “AI-generated fabrications” and “doctored images”.Sarma rejected allegations regarding properties in Dubai, claiming documents cited by Congress were sourced without authorisation from Scribd, and reiterated claims of “Pakistani links” involving Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Khera.“Why did you take help from a Pakistani social media group?… my allegation is why Pakistan is helping Gaurav Gogoi,” he said.The political row has intensified ahead of the Assam assembly elections scheduled for April 9, with campaigning set to end today evening. Vote counting will take place on May 4.
