Assam CM Sarma Registers US Firm in Gogoi's Name to Expose Shell Company Tactics
In a bold move to counter allegations from the Congress party, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday revealed that he had registered a company in Wyoming, USA, under the names of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife. This action was intended to demonstrate how easily shell entities can be created online, using similar methods that Sarma claims Congress employed against his family.
Demonstrating Ease of Company Formation
Sarma stated that the company, named "GauravElizabeth786 Limited Liability LLC," was set up for USD 199 as a "fake" entity. He explained that this was done to highlight the simplicity with which such companies can be formed, often within minutes. "We created 'GauravElizabeth786 Limited Liability LLC' by paying USD 199," Sarma said, emphasizing that technology is accessible to all, not just the Congress party.
Later, on social media platform X, he wrote, "We have now successfully registered one LLP in Wyoming using a similar toolkit that @INCIndia used to create the fake company in my wife's name. Tech is not just available to Congress, it is available to us too. Say Hello to 'GauravElizabeth786.'"
Background of Allegations and Counterclaims
This development comes in response to allegations made by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi, who claimed that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, held multiple foreign passports and assets in shell companies in the US. Specifically, they pointed to a company named "HRINIKINANDI LLC" listed on the Wyoming Secretary of State's website, with a filing date of April 3, 2026.
Records show that "GauravElizabeth786 LLC" was filed at 8:33 pm on April 5, 2026, two days after Khera raised the issue in New Delhi. Sarma argued that this timing proves how quickly such entities can be established, suggesting that Congress used similar tactics to fabricate charges against his family.
Denial of Passport Allegations
Sarma also vehemently denied the allegations regarding his wife's foreign passports, asserting that the documents circulated by Congress were doctored and sourced from a Pakistani social media group. He claimed that the allegations were made "with a malicious intent to vitiate the poll atmosphere in the state," and expressed concern over Congress allegedly taking help from Pakistan.
"This is not a simple fraud case but a crime against the nation," Sarma said, alleging that a group called "Pakistanis in Ajman" was used to build the case against his wife. He further stated that her photograph was pasted onto a lost passport image circulating online, and that Pakistan is attempting to influence the Assam polls through media narratives.
Official Confirmations and Anomalies
Sarma provided detailed rebuttals to the passport claims:
- UAE Passport: He explained that the UAE issues a Golden VISA, not a passport, to non-citizens. The ID number on the alleged document showed inconsistencies, with the birth year listed as 1996 instead of 1973, matching an Egyptian citizen's lost passport information.
- Egyptian Passport: Sarma pointed out mismatches in the passport number and Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), stating it actually belonged to an Egyptian woman named Nihad Ibrahim Al Sayed Alnaggar, with forged English details.
- Antigua Barbuda Passport: He highlighted typographical errors and anomalies in the MRZ, calling the document fabricated.
Sarma added that all three countries—UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda—have officially confirmed that the passports presented by Congress are fake.
Historical Context and Legal Action
Addressing the shell company allegations, Sarma remarked, "They tried this playbook in the St. Kitts case, but those days are over. Any fabrication will be met with the full force of law; my legal team is already at work." He recalled the St. Kitts case, a historical conspiracy to frame former Prime Minister V P Singh using forged documents.
Sarma also criticized Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, for making false allegations against his wife, calling it "unfortunate" that he would "stoop so low."
This incident underscores the ongoing political tensions in Assam, with Sarma using technological demonstrations to challenge and expose what he describes as fabricated claims by the opposition.
