Guwahati: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday sparked a controversy by alleging that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, holds passports from three countries, including two Islamic nations, and owns high-end properties in Dubai, along with investments worth several lakh crore rupees in the United States.
Sarma rejected the accusations and warned of legal action against Khera.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Khera said the claims were based on documents he had received from what he described as reliable international sources. He reportedly asserted that such allegations against a sitting Chief Minister and their family never occurred in independent India’s political history, TNIE reported.
According to a Congress statement, Khera claimed that one of the documents was a “Golden Card” issued in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in March 2022 and valid until March 2027. He further alleged that the second document was a passport from Antigua and Barbuda issued in August 2021 with validity until August 2031, while the third was from Egypt, issued in February 2022 and valid until February 2029.
Khera also called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to clarify whether a Special Investigation Team would be set up to probe the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Sarma said the press conference reflected what he described as frustration and panic within the Congress. He dismissed the claims as entirely false, malicious, and politically motivated, alleging that they were intended to mislead the people of Assam.
He further stated that he and his wife would initiate both criminal and civil defamation proceedings against Khera within 48 hours, adding that the Congress leader would be held accountable for what he termed reckless and defamatory remarks. Sarma also expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying that the truth would emerge through legal proceedings and that appropriate consequences would follow.
Emphasising that voters in Assam would not be influenced by such claims, Sarma added that the BJP-led NDA remained focused and confident of securing a decisive mandate of over 100 seats in the 126-member Assembly.