FIR by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma triggers action; Congress calls move a “witch hunt” ahead of April 9 polls
Guwahati: A team of Assam Police on April 7 visited the Delhi residence of Pawan Khera in connection with the criminal defamation FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Officials said a four-member team travelled from Assam and coordinated with Delhi Police before reaching Khera’s Nizamuddin residence. However, he was not present at the time. The FIR, filed on April 6, alleges defamatory statements made against the Chief Minister’s wife.
The Chief Minister claimed that Khera had “fled” to Hyderabad after the police action. “I came to know from media reports that when Assam Police reached his residence, he was not there,” he said, adding that the matter would proceed as per law and that “no one is above the law.”
The case stems from Khera’s recent press conference, where he alleged that Sharma held passports from three countries: the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, and had links to overseas assets, including properties in Dubai and firms in Wyoming. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi echoed similar claims.
Rejecting the allegations, the Chief Minister termed the documents “fabricated” and warned of “stringent action.”
The police move drew sharp reactions from Congress. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh called it a “witch hunt,” while party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the party was “not intimidated.”
With Assam voting on April 9, the row has become a major campaign flashpoint.
Also Read: Assam CM Hits Back at Khera: Alleges ‘Pak Link’ as Rs 52,000 Crore Claim Triggers Row
