Assam Police have reached Congress leader Pawan Khera’s home in Delhi, a day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, filed an FIR against him over allegations that she holds multiple passports and foreign citizenship. The move marks a sharp escalation in the latest political–legal tussle between the Congress and Assam’s BJP‑led government.
Khera had addressed a press conference in which he claimed that Sharma holds three passports from Egypt, UAE, and Antigua & Barbuda, and alleged that the Chief Minister’s family had used fraudulent documents to conceal foreign links. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma promptly rejected the claims as “fabricated, AI‑generated and photoshopped”, accusing the Congress of a politically motivated smear campaign ahead of the state elections.
FIR under defamation and fraud charges
Sharma filed the FIR at Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati, accusing Khera of making false, defamatory and malicious statements that damage her reputation and spread misinformation about her nationality and documents. The FIR reportedly invokes sections related to defamation, criminal conspiracy, and the use of forged documents.
In a press statement, the CM and his wife have said they are also preparing civil and criminal defamation suits against Khera, vowing that he will be held fully accountable if the claims are proven to be false. The case has drawn attention for its mix of personal allegation, AI‑forgery accusations, and timing close to crucial Assembly polls.
Cops at Khera’s residence
With the FIR lodged in Assam, local police have moved to coordinate with Delhi authorities, leading officers to approach Khera’s residence in the national capital. The action is being seen as part of standard procedure to serve notice or seek his presence, but the symbolism is potent: it signals that the state government is willing to pursue the case aggressively, even against a high‑profile Delhi‑based politician.
Congress has hit back, calling the FIR an “attempt to intimidate opposition leaders” and vowing to defend Khera in court. The party has also reiterated its demand for a transparent probe into the passport and citizenship claims, framing the row as a fight for accountabilityrather than a personal attack.
What this means politically
The episode adds another layer of drama to the already polarised campaign in Assam, where the BJP is trying to consolidate its image as a strong, development‑focused government while the Congress is digging into the personal‑file strategy of leaders like Himanta Sarma. For Khera, the move brings him yet again into the crosshairs of state‑level enforcement action, recalling earlier episodes when he faced multiple FIRs and detention attempts over critical remarks against the Prime Minister.
Whether the case proceeds to a full trial, or whether negotiations and political pressure lead to a quieter outcome, the presence of Assam police at Khera’s Delhi home will likely keep the spotlight fixed on the intersection of free speech, defamation, and electoral politics in the run‑up to the state polls.
