K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly engaging in a “clear witch-hunting” against Congress leaders. Venugopal highlighted false allegations made by Sarma against Gaurav Gogoi and his wife, questioning the lack of evidence before the elections.
Venugopal condemned Sarma’s actions as contradictory and described them as a form of witch-hunting. He also expressed confidence in the Congress party’s chances of winning in Kerala and forming the state government. The Assam Police had recently filed a case against Congress leader Pawan Khera, including charges of forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy related to remarks about Sarma’s family.
The Telangana High Court granted interim relief to Pawan Khera, providing anticipatory bail for a week to allow him to seek regular bail. The court’s decision came after Khera approached for transit anticipatory bail, citing political vendetta behind the FIR filed by Assam Police. Khera’s lawyer argued that even if the statements were incorrect, they amounted to defamation and did not warrant arrest.
Assam Police’s case against Khera involved allegations of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, stemming from his claims about Riniki Bhuyan Sarma’s foreign passports and undisclosed assets. The controversy unfolded following Khera’s press conference where he alleged multiple passports and properties held by Riniki Sarma. Police visited Khera’s residences in Delhi and Hyderabad, with security measures in place amid the ongoing legal proceedings.
