Assam Police have registered an FIR against Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera under 14 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. On Sunday, Khera alleged in a Guwahati press conference that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan, holds three passports and undisclosed properties in the UAE and a company in the US. Bhuyan denied the claims as 'false, fabricated, baseless and malicious' in her complaint.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera claimed during a press conference in Guwahati on Sunday that Riniki Bhuyan holds three passports from India, the UAE, and Egypt. He shared images of documents allegedly showing properties in her name in the UAE and a company registered in Wyoming, United States, which were not disclosed in Sarma's election affidavit.
Bhuyan filed a complaint stating she 'categorically and unequivocally' denied each allegation as 'false, fabricated, baseless and malicious,' adding that no such passports, citizenships, assets, or documents exist. The Crime Branch of Assam Police registered an FIR naming Khera and 'unknown others,' invoking 14 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including false statements related to elections, cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation, defamation, and criminal conspiracy.
On Tuesday, an Assam Police team arrived at Khera's residence in Nizamuddin East, Delhi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called it a 'witch hunt' that did not follow due process, posting on X that the chief minister was 'disturbed, desperate, and rattled' and facing 'imminent defeat.'
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate urged Sarma to respond to the charges instead of intimidation, while Imran Masood praised Khera's 'factual' presentation and Karti Chidambaram alleged Assam Police had become a 'private militia.'
