Assam Police book Pawan Khera on forgery, defamation, and conspiracy charges over alleged false passport claims targeting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s family, triggering political controversy ahead of Assam elections and raising concerns over misinformation and electoral impact.
The state police have registered a case against senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on multiple charges, including forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy. The case stems from controversial remarks allegedly made by Khera targeting the family of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to officials, the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on April 6 at the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati. The complaint was filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, who accused Khera of making “false and fabricated” allegations during two press conferences held on April 5—one in New Delhi and another in Guwahati.
The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, covering offences such as forgery of documents and electronic records, use of forged materials as genuine, defamation, criminal conspiracy, and acts potentially disturbing public tranquillity. These charges indicate the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the matter.
The controversy revolves around claims made by Khera during his media briefings, where he allegedly presented visual materials and shared social media content suggesting that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma possessed citizenship or passports from multiple foreign countries, including Egypt and Antigua and Barbuda. He also reportedly claimed that she held a “Golden Card” issued by the United Arab Emirates and had undisclosed foreign assets linked to a company based in Wyoming, United States.
Strongly refuting these allegations, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma described them as “baseless and malicious.” She asserted that the documents displayed by Khera were forged, featuring fabricated seals and QR codes designed to mimic authentic official records. Her complaint emphasizes that the dissemination of such material has caused severe reputational harm and subjected her and her family to online harassment and public scrutiny.
The FIR also highlights the rapid spread of the allegations across digital platforms, amplifying their impact. Officials noted that the timing of the claims—just days before polling scheduled for April 9—raises concerns about their potential influence on the electoral environment in Assam.
Police sources confirmed that the investigation has been handed over to senior अधिकारियों who will examine both digital and physical evidence. Authorities are expected to scrutinize the origin of the alleged documents, the authenticity of the claims, and the extent of their circulation.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Assam Police had visited Khera’s residence as part of the investigation but did not find him there. Sarma further alleged that the Congress leader may be attempting to evade questioning.
“Assam Police went to Pawan Khera’s residence, but he was not found,” Sarma said, adding that Khera may have travelled to Hyderabad. However, there has been no official confirmation of his whereabouts.
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The development has intensified political tensions in the state, with both the ruling party and the opposition likely to leverage the issue in the run-up to the elections. As the investigation unfolds, the case is expected to remain at the center of political discourse, raising broader questions about the use of digital evidence, misinformation, and accountability in contemporary political campaigns.
