In a fast-escalating political flashpoint ahead of the April 9 Assam polls, a joint team of Assam Police and Delhi Police knocked on the doors of Congress leader Pawan Khera’s home on Tuesday, a day after an FIR was filed against him by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A four-member Assam Police team arrived at Khera’s Nizamuddin residence for questioning. Delhi Police is assisting the operation, with local police informed in advance. Khera was not at home, and the team remained at the residence awaiting his return.
What Sparked the Row
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Khera’s Allegation | Riniki Bhuyan Sharma holds three foreign passports (UAE, Egypt, Antigua and Barbuda) and owns properties in Dubai |
| Legal Question | “According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does she also hold an Indian passport?” |
| Political Question | “Is Himanta Biswa Sarma the adopted son of Amit Shah?” |
| Sarma’s Response | Wife filed FIR; warned of life imprisonment under election laws |
During a press conference, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held three foreign passports and owned properties in Dubai along with assets linked to companies in Wyoming.
He also questioned: “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 three passports?”
FIR and Legal Warning
Responding sharply, Himanta Biswa Sarma said his wife had filed an FIR and warned of serious legal consequences.
“When you raise an issue with fraudulent documents, it attracts 420 and 468. When used to influence an election, the punishment is life imprisonment,” he said.
He alleged that the Congress material was sourced externally. “During our research, we found that the entire material of the press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group.”
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s Denial
| Question | Her Response |
|---|---|
| Do you have a dual passport? | “No. How can I have three passports? India is the only country that doesn’t allow dual citizenship.” |
| Dubai property claims? | “They have given a room number in a hotel. What kind of property is that? If I had property, I would buy a house.” |
| Allegations about documents? | “These are all fake allegations. These are all AI generated.” |
She also said her family was being dragged into politics. “For the last two years, they have been doing everything to defame me, my daughter, my son. We are nowhere related to politics. I am not a politician.”
Police Action and Reactions
| Development | Details |
|---|---|
| Police Action | 4-member Assam Police team at Khera’s residence; Khera not home |
| Sarma’s Jibe | Congress leader had “fled to Hyderabad” |
| Congress Reaction | Karti Chidambaram likened Assam Police to a “private militia” |
| Jairam Ramesh | Called it a “witch-hunt” and Sarma a “bully” |
Reacting to the development, Karnataka Minister Karti Chidambaram likened the Assam Police to a “private militia.”
Jairam Ramesh, the party communications in-charge, came out in support of Khera, labelling the police action against him a witch-hunt and slamming Himanta Sarma as a “bully.”
“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,” he wrote.
Sarma’s Rebuttal on Documents
| Claim | Sarma’s Response |
|---|---|
| Fake passport allegations | Confirmation received from Dubai government website that passport is fake |
| Place of birth discrepancy | “Can ‘India’ be a place of birth? It should be Jorhat or Guwahati.” |
| Rs 52,000 crore assets claim | “The entire budget of Assam isn’t even Rs 52,000 crore. That’s basic common sense.” |
Gogoi’s Challenge
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi intensified the attack, challenging Sarma publicly.
“I can say under oath on the Bhagavad Gita that I don’t have property in London. Can he do that?” Gogoi said.
He asked whether Sarma’s family held a Dubai golden visa, owned foreign property, or had business interests abroad, and called for a probe.
Political Context
The row has intensified just days before Assam votes on April 9, with both sides trading allegations over passports, foreign assets, and personal attacks involving family members. With police action underway and rhetoric sharpening, the controversy has become a central battleground in the election campaign.
