Assam Police Conducts Search at Congress Leader Pawan Khera's Delhi Residence
An Assam Police team executed a search operation at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday. This action is directly linked to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The police team, while conducting the search, also aimed to question Khera but found him absent from the premises.
Background of the Case and Allegations
The FIR was lodged by Riniki Sharma at the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati late on Sunday night. This legal move came just hours after Pawan Khera, during a press conference, made serious allegations against the Sarma family. Khera accused Riniki Sharma of holding passports from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda. Furthermore, he claimed that the Sarma family operates a limited liability company in the United States.
In response, the Sarma family has categorically denied all allegations, stating that the passport documents displayed by Khera were "AI-generated fake" creations. The case has been formally registered under several relevant charges, including forgery as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Details of the Police Operation
The Assam Police team was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Debajit Nath. Upon arrival in Delhi, the team formally notified the local Delhi police, who subsequently provided assistance during the operation. Debajit Nath confirmed to the media that a thorough search was conducted at Khera's residence. During this process, electronic devices were seized by the authorities.
"Some incriminating material was found, but its details cannot be disclosed at this stage," Nath stated. He emphasized that Khera was not present at his home during the search and assured, "We will trace him wherever he is."
Political Reactions and Statements
Following the search operation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commented on the situation. He claimed that Khera had "run away" to Hyderabad, referencing Khera's earlier challenge to the Assam Police to arrest him. "The law will take its own course," Sarma asserted, praising the competence of the Assam Police.
In a notable statement, Sarma expressed confidence that the police would locate Khera even from "paatal" (a mythological underworld) to end what he described as a game of "Luka-chuppi" (hide and seek). He also suggested a broader political connection, alleging, "First, why did you bring a fake document? Who did you give this document to? I suspect that Rahul Gandhi gave this document to them. So this case will reach even Rahul Gandhi."
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political tensions between the Congress party and the ruling dispensation in Assam, with legal proceedings now intertwining with high-profile allegations and counter-allegations.
