Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi stated that his party is set to form the government in Assam on May 4. He mentioned plans to investigate Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma once in power. The assertion follows a recent dispute between Sarma and Congress leader Pawan Khera, becoming a prominent political issue in Assam.
The conflict originated when Khera alleged that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, held multiple foreign passports and undisclosed overseas assets. These assets reportedly included properties in Dubai and business ties in the United States. Sarma and his wife strongly refuted the accusations, labeling them as false and politically driven. The Chief Minister accused the Congress of spreading misinformation and threatened legal action, including defamation charges against Khera.
The situation escalated into a legal battle, resulting in an FIR against Khera in Assam based on a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Despite initially obtaining anticipatory bail, the matter reached the Supreme Court after Assam Police contested the relief. The Supreme Court declined to extend protection from arrest to Khera, instructing him to seek recourse in the appropriate Assam court.
Subsequently, Sarma urged Khera to surrender in Guwahati and face legal proceedings. The dispute has evolved into a significant political clash, with the Congress persisting in its claims and the Bharatiya Janata Party dismissing them as groundless and defamatory. This controversy has heightened the political atmosphere in Assam, blending legal actions with electoral discourse, becoming a central theme in the state’s political narrative.
