Guwahati, April 7 (NationPress) The Assam Police have initiated legal action against Congress leader Pawan Khera on multiple allegations, including forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy. These charges arise from comments directed at the family of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday.

The First Information Report (FIR) was filed on April 6 at the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati, following a complaint from Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the Chief Minister’s spouse.

The complaint claims that Khera made “false and fabricated” assertions during two press conferences on April 5, one in New Delhi and the other in Guwahati.

The FIR cites various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which includes sections addressing forgery of documents and electronic records, using forged documents as authentic, defamation, criminal conspiracy, and actions that might disrupt public peace.

According to the complaint, Khera allegedly showcased visual content and shared information on social media implying that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma possessed citizenship or passports from countries such as Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda, in addition to holding a “Golden Card” issued by the United Arab Emirates.

Furthermore, it was alleged that she owns undisclosed foreign assets and has ties to a company based in Wyoming, United States.

Riniki Bhuyan Sharma has categorically rejected these allegations, labeling them as “baseless and malicious.” She further asserted that the documents exhibited during the press conferences were forged, featuring counterfeit seals and QR codes intended to mimic official documentation.

The FIR also notes the extensive dissemination of these allegations across digital channels, which purportedly incited public outrage, online harassment, and reputational harm to Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and her family. It raises concerns regarding the timing of these claims, which emerged just days prior to the elections scheduled for April 9 in Assam, potentially influencing the electoral atmosphere.

Officials from the police department revealed that the investigation has been entrusted to senior officers, who will evaluate both digital and physical evidence as part of their inquiry.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remarked on Tuesday that the Assam Police had visited Khera’s residence as part of their investigation, but alleged that the Congress leader was not present.

“The Assam Police went to Pawan Khera’s residence, but he has gone into hiding,” Sarma asserted.

He also suggested that Khera might have fled to Hyderabad to avoid questioning. “He has likely escaped to Hyderabad,” Sarma added.