In a significant escalation of political tensions ahead of the final phase of the Assam Assembly elections, the Assam Police, in coordination with the Delhi Police, conducted a search operation at the residence of senior Congress leader and AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera on Tuesday, while the raid took place at Khera's residence in the Nizamuddin area of South Delhi. This legal action follows an FIR registered by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, regarding allegations leveled against her and the Chief Minister's family by the Congress leader during a recent press conference.
Search Operation at Nizamuddin Residence
According to police officials, the Assam Police team arrived at Pawan Khera's Nizamuddin home early Tuesday morning, while the search lasted for several hours as officials combed through documents and electronic records. While Pawan Khera was reportedly not at home during the raid, the police team maintained that the search was conducted following due legal process. Upon exiting the premises, the Assam Police informed the media that they had recovered certain 'objectionable documents' that are relevant to the ongoing investigation. The nature of these documents has not been disclosed to the public yet, but they're expected to be presented as evidence in the case registered in Assam.
Allegations of Multiple Passports and Foreign Citizenship
The controversy began on Sunday when Pawan Khera held a press conference in New Delhi, making startling claims about the Chief Minister's family, while khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports from different countries, namely the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt. He provided specific details regarding the expiry dates of these alleged passports, stating they're valid until March 2027, August 2031, and February 2029, respectively. The Congress leader questioned how an Indian citizen could possess multiple foreign passports and why this information wasn't disclosed to the relevant authorities or the Election Commission of India.
Claims Regarding International Assets and Shell Companies
Beyond the passport allegations, the Congress party, represented by Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi, raised questions about the Chief Minister's family's financial interests abroad, while during press briefings in both Delhi and Guwahati, the party posed three specific questions to Himanta Biswa Sarma. They inquired about the ownership of properties in Dubai, the existence of companies registered in Wyoming, USA, and the alleged flow of capital through shell companies. The Congress leaders asserted that these assets weren't mentioned in the mandatory election affidavits filed by the Chief Minister, thereby demanding a fresh disclosure and an investigation into the source of these funds.
Legal Counter-Action and FIR by CM's Family
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as a smear campaign orchestrated by the opposition to gain electoral mileage. He stated that the claims were entirely false and that his family would seek legal recourse, while following this, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma filed a formal complaint with the Assam Police, accusing Khera of making defamatory and baseless statements. The FIR led to the dispatch of the police team to Delhi. The Chief Minister had earlier remarked that the timing of these allegations, just days before the final round of voting, indicated a clear political motive to mislead the electorate.
Political Climate Ahead of Assam Elections
The raid comes at a critical juncture as Assam prepares for the final phase of voting scheduled for April 9. The political discourse in the state has been dominated by these allegations of corruption and administrative irregularities. While the Congress maintains that it waited for factual verification before making the claims public, the BJP has dismissed the move as a sign of desperation from an opposition facing defeat. Gaurav Gogoi had challenged the Chief Minister to swear by religious texts to prove his innocence, a statement that has further polarized the campaign. The recovery of documents from Khera's residence is likely to keep this issue at the forefront of the political narrative in the coming days.