Congress leader Pawan Khera appeared before the Assam Police's crime branch on Wednesday in connection with allegations of making false statements against the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The charges against Khera include making false statements in connection with an election, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and defamation.
Background of the Case
The case stems from remarks made by Khera during the ongoing election campaign. Khera had allegedly made statements implicating the Chief Minister's wife in a controversy related to financial irregularities. The Assam Police registered a complaint and summoned Khera for questioning.
Allegations and Legal Provisions
The charges invoked against Khera include multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These include Section 171G (false statement in connection with an election), Section 420 (cheating), Section 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), Section 471 (using a forged document as genuine), and Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace). Additionally, defamation charges under Section 500 have also been applied.
Khera's Response
Khera arrived at the crime branch office in Guwahati accompanied by legal counsel. He maintained that his statements were based on publicly available documents and denied any wrongdoing. The Congress leader stated that he would cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed confidence that the truth would prevail.
Political Reactions
The incident has sparked a political row, with the Congress party accusing the state government of misusing police machinery to stifle dissent. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam defended the police action, asserting that no one is above the law. The case is expected to be heard in court soon, with Khera likely to seek anticipatory bail.
