Congress Leader Pawan Khera Appears Before Guwahati Police in Passport Controversy

Pawan Khera's Cooperation with Police Investigation

Congress politician Pawan Khera has appeared before the Guwahati police in connection with allegations against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera is actively cooperating with the investigation. Previously, the Supreme Court granted him anticipatory bail in this matter. On Thursday, Khera arrived at the Crime Branch police station in Guwahati, facing accusations related to a passport dispute involving Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the Chief Minister's wife. Speaking to reporters outside the police station, Khera stated that he is assisting in the ongoing investigation.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy began when Khera alleged during a press conference in April that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports from India, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, and has undisclosed properties in Dubai, along with a company in Wyoming, USA. The Sharma family has vehemently denied these claims, labeling the documents circulated by Pakistani social media groups as fabricated stories generated by AI.

Chief Minister's Response

In response to the allegations, Chief Minister Sarma vowed to take strict action, suggesting that Khera should have consulted the Foreign Minister before making such claims. He remarked that Khera, despite his age, speaks irrationally. Sarma asserted that Assam police are capable of locating individuals even in the most challenging circumstances, expressing skepticism that Rahul Gandhi may have provided Khera with these documents. He warned against attempts to intimidate, emphasizing Assam's historical resilience against Islamic invasions.

Further Developments

Sarma also claimed that Khera fled to Hyderabad after a search was conducted, stating that he learned through media reports that police had visited Khera's residence in Delhi, but he had already escaped to Hyderabad. The law will take its course, he added. Earlier, the Supreme Court of India had granted anticipatory bail to Khera concerning allegations of making defamatory statements against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma using purportedly fake documents.