A team of the Assam Police, in coordination with the Delhi Police, reached the residence of senior Congress leader and national spokesperson Pawan Khera in Delhi on Tuesday. This development occurred during the final phase of campaigning for the Assam Assembly elections. According to officials, the police team arrived at Khera's house located at D-12, Nizamuddin East. Sources indicated that Khera wasn't present at his residence at the time of the visit, as he was reportedly traveling outside Delhi for official engagements.
The police action follows serious allegations leveled by Pawan Khera against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. During a press conference held a day earlier, the Congress leader claimed that the Chief Minister's wife allegedly possesses three different passports. These allegations triggered a sharp political reaction in Assam, leading to the initiation of legal proceedings. The visit by the police is being viewed as part of the ongoing investigation into these claims.
Details of the Police Visit in Delhi
According to officials, the Assam Police team arrived in the national capital on Tuesday morning and sought assistance from the local police to locate Khera's residence in Nizamuddin East, while police sources stated that the visit was intended to serve a notice or conduct inquiries related to a specific complaint or case registered in Assam. Since Khera wasn't at home, the team couldn't establish direct contact with him. Delhi Police officials confirmed that they provided the necessary procedural support to the visiting team as per interstate police cooperation protocols.
The Controversy Over Passport Allegations
On Monday, Pawan Khera had cited certain documents to allege that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports simultaneously, while he termed this a violation of the law and directed his criticism toward Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and asked for a clarification from the concerned authorities. These allegations have been dismissed as baseless by the Assam Chief Minister and his party colleagues, while while no detailed official statement has been released by the CM's wife yet, the ruling party has labeled these claims as a political stunt aimed at influencing the elections.
Political Context Amid Assam Elections
This incident has unfolded on the final day of campaigning for the Assam Assembly elections, a time when political tensions are at their peak. The state has witnessed intense campaigning with the incumbent BJP and the opposition Congress engaging in a fierce war of words. The Congress has focused its campaign on issues of corruption and personal irregularities, while the BJP has maintained that these allegations are an attempt to distract from the developmental agenda. The arrival of the police at Khera's residence has added a new layer of controversy to the electoral battle in the state.
Previous Legal Encounters with Assam Police
This isn't the first instance of a legal confrontation between Pawan Khera and the Assam Police, while in February 2023, Khera was deboarded from a flight at the Delhi airport and subsequently arrested by the Assam Police. That action was taken in connection with a case registered against him for remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that time, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail and later ordered the clubbing of multiple FIRs registered against him in different states. The current situation is being seen as a continuation of the legal and political friction between the leader and the state administration.
Procedural and Legal Framework
Legal experts note that when a police team from one state visits another state to conduct an investigation at a person's residence, they must follow specific legal protocols, including informing the local jurisdiction. The action by the Assam Police is reportedly being carried out under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), while sources suggest that the team intended to verify statements or deliver a summons for questioning. While the Congress party has termed the move as 'political vendetta,' police officials maintain that they're proceeding strictly according to the law to investigate the formal complaints received.