Assam Police Search Pawan Khera’s Delhi Home Amid Passport Row and Election Tension
A high-stakes political battle has erupted between the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just days before the Assam Assembly elections. Assam Police conducted searches at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday, following an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The confrontation centers on explosive allegations regarding foreign passports and undisclosed assets, with both sides trading accusations of fraud and smear campaigns as the state prepares to vote on April 9.
The Raid and Seizures in Delhi
On Tuesday, a team from the Assam Police, assisted by the Delhi Police, reached Pawan Khera’s residence in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi. According to Assam police DCP Debojit Nath, Khera was not present during the search. Though, officers seized electronic devices and discovered “incriminating material,” though the police have not yet disclosed the specific details of these findings. Hindustan Times reports that the case is registered at the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati.
The Core of the Controversy: Passports and Properties
The legal clash began after Pawan Khera held a press conference on Sunday, where he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds passports from three different countries: the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda. Khera further claimed that she owns property in Dubai and a company registered in Wyoming, United States, assets he asserted were not disclosed in the Chief Minister’s affidavit. The Indian Express notes that these claims prompted Bhuyan Sarma to file a complaint, leading to Khera being booked under forgery and related charges.
CM Sarma’s Response and Counter-Allegations
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has dismissed the allegations as a “Pakistan-linked smear campaign.” He claimed that the property documents used by Congress to link his family to Dubai apartments were stolen from the document-sharing platform Scribd. The Economic Times reports that Sarma also alleged Khera “ran away” from Guwahati and subsequently fled to Hyderabad to avoid the police.
Sarma has vowed to take “stringent action” against the Congress leader, asserting that the party is “finished” in Assam and predicting a victory of at least 100 seats for the NDA.
Political Fallout Ahead of Elections
The Congress party has hit back at the raids, claiming they prove the Chief Minister is “facing imminent defeat.” The timing of the police action is particularly sensitive, occurring only two days before the April 9 assembly elections.
- Legal Action: Assam Police filed an FIR against Pawan Khera for forgery following a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
- The Allegations: Congress claims the CM’s wife holds three foreign passports (UAE, Egypt, Antigua and Barbuda) and undisclosed assets.
- The Defense: CM Sarma claims documents were stolen from Scribd and alleges a foreign-linked smear campaign.
- Current Status: Police seized electronic devices from Khera’s Delhi home; the CM claims Khera has fled to Hyderabad.
- Election Context: These events unfold immediately before the Assam Assembly elections on April 9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Assam Police search Pawan Khera’s home?
The search followed an FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, after Khera alleged she held multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas properties.
What specific allegations did Pawan Khera make?
Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possesses passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, and owns property in Dubai and a company in Wyoming, USA.
How has Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded?
Sarma denied the claims, stating that the documents were stolen from Scribd. He further accused the Congress of running a smear campaign with Pakistan links and claimed Khera fled to Hyderabad to evade the law.
As the April 9 election deadline approaches, the legal proceedings against Pawan Khera and the political rhetoric between the BJP and Congress are expected to intensify.
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