Assam police on Tuesday conducted searches at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera, days after he raised serious allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan.
The Assam team formally informed the Delhi Police upon arrival, following which a local police team joined and assisted in the proceedings.
Khera was not present at his residence when the police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Debajit Nath conducted the searches.
The police action came days after Khera, at a press conference on Sunday, claimed that the Assam CM's wife possessed passports of three countries: the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda.
He also shared images of documents that purportedly showed properties in Bhuyan's name in the UAE and investments worth several lakh crore rupees in Wyoming, United States. Khera pointed out that details regarding these assets were not disclosed in Sarma’s affidavit.
Sarma and his wife dismissed the claims and vowed to sue Khera. Sarma also stated that he would request the Assam Police to send a team to Delhi to seize the passports and find out if they were fake or genuine.
The raids were conducted based on the FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan with the Assam Crime Branch in Guwahati. According to police, Khera has been booked under forgery and related charges.
Describing the police action as "witch hunt" using state machinery, the Congress hit out at Assam CM and alleged it was an attempt to silence the voice of the Opposition, exposing his "black deeds."
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest his colleague Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is "disturbed, desperate, and rattled".
"This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds.
Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide," Ramesh said on X.
It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat, Ramesh added.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier on Tuesday alleged that Pawan Khera had "run away to Hyderabad" fearing the raids.
"He ran away from Guwahati yesterday. I have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi, but he has run away to Hyderabad. The law will take its own course," Sarma said, responding to a question at a public rally on Tuesday.
The Congress had on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission, demanding the cancellation of Sarma’s candidature, stating that he deliberately did not mention his wife's alleged offshore assets in his election affidavit.
Sarma is contesting the April 9 elections from Guwahati's Jalukbari constituency, a seat he has held since 2001.
(With inputs from Online Desk)
