FIR filed; Sarma cites 11 Pakistan talk shows, calls documents ‘fabricated.’
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit back at Pawan Khera after allegations involving passports and financial links triggered a political row in the state.
The controversy began when Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma possessed passports from three countries: the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda. He also pointed to a Wyoming-based company allegedly linked to the family, citing figures of around Rs 3,467 crore and projections reaching Rs 52,000 crore, raising questions over transparency and election disclosures.
Rejecting the claims, the Chief Minister termed the documents “fabricated” and stated that discrepancies were found in key details, such as spelling and place of birth. He added that verification through diplomatic channels indicated that the UAE-related passport documents cited were not genuine.
The Chief Minister further alleged a possible external angle, claiming that the material used in the Congress press conferences originated from Pakistani social media networks. He said that in the last 10 days, Pakistani channels aired at least 11 talk shows on Assam elections, each allegedly favouring the Congress.
The matter has also taken a legal turn, with Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filing an FIR accusing Khera of spreading false information. The Chief Minister said such actions could attract charges under cheating and forgery laws, with stricter penalties if linked to influencing electoral outcomes. He also dismissed the financial figures as unrealistic, stating that such sums would be implausible even over 20 years in public life.
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