Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Assam Police on Tuesday searched the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera following an FIR lodged by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, amid an ongoing political controversy over allegations related to the latter holding multiple passports.The development comes after Khera, who heads the Congress media department, alleged that Sarma’s wife held three passports, of UAE, Egypt and India , claims that have been strongly denied by the ruling BJP leadership in the state.Reacting to the Assam cops search Sarma said ,”I don’t know why Assam Police went to Delhi. As far as I know, Pawan Khera has already fled to Hyderabad,” as quoted by PTI.Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, the chief minister said he would act against the Congress leader. “I will take stringest action against Congress leader Pawan Khera, just wait for some days. We will win at least 100 seats in the elections,” Sarma said.Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, speaking to ANI, confirmed filing the FIR and said the allegations could not be treated lightly. She accused the opposition of acting out of frustration and attempting to “set up a playbook,” adding that “let justice prevail”.Sarma also rejected claims linking his family to properties in Dubai, alleging that documents cited by Congress were sourced from the document-sharing platform Scribd without authorisation. He further escalated the attack by alleging “Pakistani links” in the controversy involving Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Pawan Khera.“Why did you take help from a Pakistani social media group? So whatever has been said about us, we will go to court, everything, but my allegation is why is Pakistan helping Gaurav Gogoi,” he said.The chief minister also asserted that the Congress was “finished” in Assam, citing what he described as improving electoral prospects for the NDA.The row comes just ahead of the Assam assembly elections scheduled for April 9, with campaigning set to end on Tuesday evening. Vote counting will take place on May 4.(With inputs from ANI)
