Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: As Assam’s assembly poll campaign concluded on Tuesday, the state witnessed a high-stakes political showdown. Police reached Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence following an FIR filed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, over his controversial “three passports” claim. Assam police said they recovered “incriminating” material from Khera’s home but declined to provide further details. The Congress leader’s current whereabouts remain unknown, fueling speculation and political tension ahead of the elections. Sarma escalated the rhetoric, warning that authorities would track Khera down even from the “pataal” (netherworld) to investigate alleged false documents.
Assam Police at Khera’s residence
Assam police conducted a search at Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence, but he was not present at the time, officials said. During the operation, electronic devices were seized, and some “incriminating material” was recovered, though authorities declined to disclose further details at this stage. The case has been registered at the crime branch police station in Guwahati. Police sources added that Khera’s current whereabouts remain unknown, but efforts are underway to trace him. Upon arriving at the residence, the team formally informed Delhi Police, after which a local unit joined to assist in the proceedings, PTI reported.
Khera goes ‘missing’
The whereabouts of Congress leader Pawan Khera remain unknown, Assam Police DCP Debojit Nath confirmed, but authorities said efforts are underway to trace him. Earlier, a police team had visited his Delhi residence to question him in connection with the case. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Khera had “run away” to Hyderabad but insisted that the Assam Police would track him down even from the “pataal” (netherworld).“‘Assam Police ko nahi jante hain.. Pataal se bhi ukhar ke le ayega’ (They don’t know the Assam Police… they will hunt him down even from the netherworld),” said Sarma.Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party was ready to face the investigation.“They have already filed an FIR against Khera. Let them probe the matter. We will face the case as it progresses,” he said.
How it all started
The political storm began when Khera publicly questioned Sarma’s family over alleged violations of law. The Congress leader claimed that documents indicated Sarma’s wife, Riniki, holds multiple active passports, raising concerns over dual citizenship and legal compliance.“Himanta Biswa Sarma’s entire politics is based on hatred against Muslims, but how does his wife hold passports from two Muslim countries? According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does Rinki Bhuyan Sarma also hold an Indian passport? 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 3 passports?” he said.He challenged the chief minister on his stance toward dual citizenship rules, questioning how Sarma’s wife could possess passports from multiple countries. Khera also demanded clarity on Sarma’s financial and property interests abroad, alleging that his family’s Dubai and US assets were concealed from official affidavits.He vowed to release further evidence, intensifying the scrutiny on the chief minister and his family ahead of the Assam assembly elections, which is set to take place on April 9.
Himanta charges back with a ‘Pakistani’ link
The Assam CM dismissed the charges as fake and claimed that the original UAE passport was uploaded on social media by a “Pakistani man”.“The original UAE passport was uploaded on social media by a Pakistani man. They (Congress) did AI Photoshop in the passport. Tipu Sultan had uploaded the original passport on social media. The Egyptian passport is also fake. You can find out through Google Reverse,” Sarma said in a press conference on Monday.Sarma pointed out technical discrepancies in the documents, suggesting they were fabricated or digitally altered. He shared a detailed presentation claiming that anyone could register a company for just $199 and alleged that Congress obtained images of passports and documents from a Pakistani social media group. He insisted that these claims are part of a politically motivated campaign by Congress ahead of the Assam assembly elections.
