On April 7, 2026, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a strong statement asserting that the Assam Police would go to any lengths, even metaphorically reaching into the "paatal" or netherworld, to apprehend Congress leader Pawan Khera. This declaration came amid a political controversy sparked by allegations made by Mr. Khera concerning Sarma's family, specifically targeting the Chief Minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
The controversy began when Pawan Khera, a senior Congress leader, publicly accused Riniki Bhuyan Sharma of holding three foreign passports, owning undeclared luxury properties in Dubai, and operating shell companies in the United States. These allegations were made during a press conference held on April 5, 2026, and quickly escalated into a political storm ahead of the Assam Assembly elections.
In response to these claims, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed a first information report (FIR) with the Assam police crime branch in Guwahati. Following the FIR, an Assam police team traveled to Mr. Khera's residence in Nizamuddin, New Delhi, to question him. However, the team found that Mr. Khera was not at home. Sources indicate that Mr. Khera was in Telangana, a state governed by the Congress party, which means that Assam police would require permission from local authorities there to conduct any investigation.
During a press briefing in Sivasagar, Assam, Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the Assam Police would not be deterred in their pursuit. He said, "They don't know the Assam Police... they will hunt him down even from the netherworld." Both Sarma and his wife vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as "fabricated." They also threatened to initiate legal action against Mr. Khera within 48 hours. Sarma accused the Congress leader of making these claims with malicious intent to disturb the electoral atmosphere in Assam.
The Congress party, however, stood firmly behind Pawan Khera. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responded to the allegations by stating that since an FIR had already been filed against Mr. Khera, the Assam police should proceed with their investigation. He also mentioned that the party was advocating for more thorough probes by central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to examine the claims made against Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh defended Mr. Khera, criticizing the Assam government's approach. He pointed out that deploying a "full army of police officials" to seek out Mr. Khera for merely raising questions in the public interest demonstrated that the Chief Minister was "disturbed, desperate, and rattled." Ramesh accused the Assam government of conducting a "witch hunt" and using state machinery to silence opposition voices exposing alleged wrongdoing. He further stated that such intimidation tactics reveal that those in power have much to hide.
The Assam Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime), Debajit Nath, who was assisted by the Delhi police, led the operation to locate Mr. Khera at his New Delhi residence. Although Mr. Khera was not found at home, the police conducted a search of the premises and seized electronic devices. Assam police officials claimed that they discovered "incriminating" evidence during this search, though no specifics have been disclosed.
Amid this escalating political drama, the Congress party also petitioned the Election Commission of India to cancel Chief Minister Sarma's candidature in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. They alleged that Sarma had deliberately failed to disclose his wife's alleged offshore assets in his election affidavit, which would be a violation of election transparency norms. Sarma is contesting the Jalukbari constituency, a seat he has held since 2001.
The developments come at a critical time as Assam prepares for its Assembly polls. The confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition has intensified, with allegations and counter-allegations shaping the political narrative. The case highlights the intersection of political rivalry, legal scrutiny, and electoral accountability in Assam's democratic process.
To summarize, the key points of this unfolding story are:
- Congress leader Pawan Khera accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, of holding multiple foreign passports, owning undeclared luxury properties abroad, and running shell companies in the U.S.
- Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed an FIR against Khera, prompting Assam police to seek him out in New Delhi; however, he was not found at his residence.
- Assam CM Sarma vowed that the police would pursue Khera relentlessly, even from the "netherworld," signaling his determination to investigate the source of the allegations.
- Both Sarma and his wife denied the charges and threatened legal action against Khera.
- The Congress party defended Khera, called for central agency probes into the allegations, and accused the Assam government of misusing state machinery to intimidate opposition leaders.
- Assam police, assisted by Delhi police, seized electronic devices from Khera's residence and claimed to have found incriminating evidence.
- Congress petitioned the Election Commission to disqualify Sarma from contesting the elections due to nondisclosure of alleged assets.
As the situation develops, the role of law enforcement agencies, the Election Commission, and the judiciary will be closely watched. The controversy underscores the increasingly intense political battles that characterize elections in India, where allegations of corruption and misuse of power are common tools in the fight for public office. The unfolding inquiry and any subsequent legal actions will have significant implications for the political landscape in Assam and beyond.