New Delhi: Just two days before the high octane electoral battle in Assam, a teal of the northeastern state police carried out searches in the national capital at residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera over his allegation against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Rinki Sarma Bhuyan on holding three passports of different countries.
A team comprising four to five Assam Police personnel arrived in South Delhi’s East Nizamuddin aeea and carried out searches at hus residence.
During the searches, which was assisted bythe Delhi Police personnel, also seized several electronic equipment from the Congress leaders residence. Khera was not available at his residence during the searches by Assam Police.
The Assam Police action comes two days after Khera during a press conference in the national alleged that Sarma’s wife held three passports from UAE, Egypt and Antigua. He also showed some images of documents that purportedly showed properties in her name in the UAE and a company registered in Wyoming, United States, which he claimed were not disclosed in Sarma’s affidavit.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, the Assam Police personnel mentioned that they cannot reveal the details of the electronic gadgets seized.
When asked if they were able to trace Khera, the police personnel responded saying that as of now they have not, but soon they are going to trace him.
The actions comes after Bhuyan filed a complaint against Khera.
The case against the Congress leader has been registered with the Crime Branch of the Assam Police. According to Assam Police, Khera has been booked under forgery and related charges.
Reacting sharply to the Assam police action, Congress General Secretary and commukocations incharhe MP Jairam Ramesh in a post on X said: “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. This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide.It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat.”
Even Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who was in Assam during a press conference reacted sharply on Assam Police action and said, “We want clarification from the central government and the External Affairs Minister. And whatsoever actions are there, we will face it.”
Meanwhile speaking to the media in Assam, the Chief Minister and the BJP leader Sarma said, “He ran away from Guwahati yesterday. I have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi, but he has run away to Hyderabad last night.”
Meanwhile, while speaking to the media on Monday evening, Riniki had said that photos of her purported passport shared by Khera were AI-generated and edited.
“It seems that a mad dog has bitten them, and from the top rung of the Congress to the lowest rung, I believe that they don’t have anything else to do except defaming people, that too with AI-generated and total photoshop. One more thing, which they have done well, is set up a playbook… It is an example set to the entire Assamese society by a very veteran party, which is very shameful. I think they have gone berserk… For the last two years, they have been doing every little thing to defame me, my daughter, my son; we are nowhere related to politics,” she had said.
Polling for the 126 assembly swats in Assam is scheduled on April 9 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.
