Assam cops at Pawan Khera's home after passport charge against Himanta Sarma's wife
A political row over passport allegations intensifies as Assam Police arrives at Pawan Khera's Delhi residence, with sharp exchanges, legal action and serious claims adding to tensions ahead of crucial polls.
In a fast-escalating political flashpoint ahead of the April 9 polls, a joint team of Assam Police and Delhi Police searched the residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday, a day after an FIR was filed against him by the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The FIR accuses Khera of conspiracy and fraud in connection to his allegations that Sarma's wife possessed passports of multiple foreign countries.
The four-member Assam Police team arrived at Khera’s Nizamuddin residence on Tuesday for questioning, with Delhi Police assisting the operation. Khera was not at home, and the team remained at the residence awaiting his return.
According to sources, some “incriminating material” was recovered during the search. Amid Khera’s absence, Sarma took a swipe, saying the Congress leader had “fled to Hyderabad”.
HIMANTA HITS BACK, TARGETS CONGRESS LEADERS
Reacting to the controversy, Himanta Biswa Sarma said Khera should have verified facts before making allegations. “Before levelling an allegation, he should have asked the foreign minister,” the Chief Minister said.
Talking to news agency ANI, he also launched a sharp attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. “Kharge ji has aged, yet he speaks like a madman,” Sarma said, adding that Assam Police would pursue the case aggressively.
“Assam Police can find and bring people from ‘pataal’ as well. I suspect Rahul Gandhi has given him these documents. So this case will extend to Rahul Gandhi. Do not try to scare us,” he said.
“This is Assam, and we have fought against Islamic invasion 17 times,” Sarma further added.
CONGRESS CALLS POLICE ACTION ‘WITCH-HUNT’
The Congress reacted sharply to the police action. Karnataka Minister Karti Chidambaram likened the Assam Police to a “private militia”.
Party leader Jairam Ramesh called the move a witch-hunt and targeted the Chief Minister. “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.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari questioned the legality of the move. “Seems like there is no rule of law in Delhi. Pawan Khera made allegations against a private person. They should have given their version,” he said.
“The Assam Police should have registered the FIR, conducted the probe and asked us about the information we have. Then they should have acted,” he added.
TRIGGER: PASSPORT AND FOREIGN ASSETS ALLEGATIONS
The police action follows Khera’s press conference alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held three foreign passports, from UAE, Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, and owned properties in Dubai along with assets linked to companies in Wyoming.
“According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does Riniki Bhuyan Sharma also hold an Indian passport?” Khera asked.
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, LEGAL WARNING AND PAKISTAN LINK CLAIM
Responding, Himanta Biswa Sarma said his wife had filed an FIR and warned of 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 Congress relied on external sources.
“During our research, we found that the entire material of the press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group.”
“In the last 10 days, Pakistan channel has done at least 11 talk shows on Assam elections. Pakistan’s link has become very apparent,” he added.
RINIKI BHUYAN SHARMA: ‘HOW CAN I HAVE THREE PASSPORTS?’
Rejecting the allegations, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma said, “No. How can I have three passports?”
“India is the only country that doesn’t allow dual citizenship,” she added, while speaking to India Today's sister channel The Lallantop.
Calling the claims fabricated, she said, “These are all fake allegations. These are all AI-generated.”
On Dubai property claims, she said, “They have given a room number in a hotel. What kind of property is that? If I had property, I would buy a house.”
‘TARGETING MY FAMILY, NOT POLITICS’
She said her family was being dragged into the political fight.
“For the last two years, they have been doing everything to defame me, my daughter, my son. We are nowhere related to politics,” she said.
“I am not a politician. I don’t comment on politics. When fake people come against me, I will defend.”
GOGOI ESCALATES, CONGRESS PLANS FRESH OFFENSIVE
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi intensified the attack, challenging Sarma.
“I can say under oath on the Bhagavad Gita that I don’t have property in London. Can he do that?” he said.
Sources within the Congress said Khera is preparing another political offensive, with more evidence gathered and a major press conference likely later in the day.
CM FLAGS ‘FAKE PASSPORT’, CITES DISCREPANCIES
Sarma said the passport cited had been verified as fake.
“Confirmation has been received from a Dubai government website that the passport is fake,” he said.
He pointed to inconsistencies, saying, “Can ‘India’ be a place of birth? It should be Jorhat or Guwahati. It’s error upon error.”
He also dismissed claims of Rs 52,000 crore assets.
“The entire budget of Assam isn’t even Rs 52,000 crore. That’s basic common sense,” he said.
CAMPAIGN TURNS PERSONAL AHEAD OF APRIL 9 POLLS
The confrontation has sharpened days before Assam votes on April 9, with both sides trading allegations over passports, foreign assets and personal attacks involving family members.
With searches carried out, claims of fresh evidence emerging and rhetoric intensifying, the controversy has become a central battleground in the election campaign.
In a fast-escalating political flashpoint ahead of the April 9 polls, a joint team of Assam Police and Delhi Police searched the residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday, a day after an FIR was filed against him by the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The FIR accuses Khera of conspiracy and fraud in connection to his allegations that Sarma's wife possessed passports of multiple foreign countries.
The four-member Assam Police team arrived at Khera’s Nizamuddin residence on Tuesday for questioning, with Delhi Police assisting the operation. Khera was not at home, and the team remained at the residence awaiting his return.
According to sources, some “incriminating material” was recovered during the search. Amid Khera’s absence, Sarma took a swipe, saying the Congress leader had “fled to Hyderabad”.
HIMANTA HITS BACK, TARGETS CONGRESS LEADERS
Reacting to the controversy, Himanta Biswa Sarma said Khera should have verified facts before making allegations. “Before levelling an allegation, he should have asked the foreign minister,” the Chief Minister said.
Talking to news agency ANI, he also launched a sharp attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. “Kharge ji has aged, yet he speaks like a madman,” Sarma said, adding that Assam Police would pursue the case aggressively.
“Assam Police can find and bring people from ‘pataal’ as well. I suspect Rahul Gandhi has given him these documents. So this case will extend to Rahul Gandhi. Do not try to scare us,” he said.
“This is Assam, and we have fought against Islamic invasion 17 times,” Sarma further added.
CONGRESS CALLS POLICE ACTION ‘WITCH-HUNT’
The Congress reacted sharply to the police action. Karnataka Minister Karti Chidambaram likened the Assam Police to a “private militia”.
Party leader Jairam Ramesh called the move a witch-hunt and targeted the Chief Minister. “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.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari questioned the legality of the move. “Seems like there is no rule of law in Delhi. Pawan Khera made allegations against a private person. They should have given their version,” he said.
“The Assam Police should have registered the FIR, conducted the probe and asked us about the information we have. Then they should have acted,” he added.
TRIGGER: PASSPORT AND FOREIGN ASSETS ALLEGATIONS
The police action follows Khera’s press conference alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held three foreign passports, from UAE, Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, and owned properties in Dubai along with assets linked to companies in Wyoming.
“According to Indian law, you cannot hold dual citizenship, so does Riniki Bhuyan Sharma also hold an Indian passport?” Khera asked.
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, LEGAL WARNING AND PAKISTAN LINK CLAIM
Responding, Himanta Biswa Sarma said his wife had filed an FIR and warned of 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 Congress relied on external sources.
“During our research, we found that the entire material of the press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group.”
“In the last 10 days, Pakistan channel has done at least 11 talk shows on Assam elections. Pakistan’s link has become very apparent,” he added.
RINIKI BHUYAN SHARMA: ‘HOW CAN I HAVE THREE PASSPORTS?’
Rejecting the allegations, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma said, “No. How can I have three passports?”
“India is the only country that doesn’t allow dual citizenship,” she added, while speaking to India Today's sister channel The Lallantop.
Calling the claims fabricated, she said, “These are all fake allegations. These are all AI-generated.”
On Dubai property claims, she said, “They have given a room number in a hotel. What kind of property is that? If I had property, I would buy a house.”
‘TARGETING MY FAMILY, NOT POLITICS’
She said her family was being dragged into the political fight.
“For the last two years, they have been doing everything to defame me, my daughter, my son. We are nowhere related to politics,” she said.
“I am not a politician. I don’t comment on politics. When fake people come against me, I will defend.”
GOGOI ESCALATES, CONGRESS PLANS FRESH OFFENSIVE
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi intensified the attack, challenging Sarma.
“I can say under oath on the Bhagavad Gita that I don’t have property in London. Can he do that?” he said.
Sources within the Congress said Khera is preparing another political offensive, with more evidence gathered and a major press conference likely later in the day.
CM FLAGS ‘FAKE PASSPORT’, CITES DISCREPANCIES
Sarma said the passport cited had been verified as fake.
“Confirmation has been received from a Dubai government website that the passport is fake,” he said.
He pointed to inconsistencies, saying, “Can ‘India’ be a place of birth? It should be Jorhat or Guwahati. It’s error upon error.”
He also dismissed claims of Rs 52,000 crore assets.
“The entire budget of Assam isn’t even Rs 52,000 crore. That’s basic common sense,” he said.
CAMPAIGN TURNS PERSONAL AHEAD OF APRIL 9 POLLS
The confrontation has sharpened days before Assam votes on April 9, with both sides trading allegations over passports, foreign assets and personal attacks involving family members.
With searches carried out, claims of fresh evidence emerging and rhetoric intensifying, the controversy has become a central battleground in the election campaign.
