Congress leader Pawan Khera was questioned for more than 10 hours by the Assam Police Crime Branch on May 13 in connection with cases linked to alleged remarks concerning passports and foreign properties involving Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Khera appeared before the Crime Branch office in Guwahati after being summoned by investigators as part of the ongoing probe. The cases were registered after the Congress leader allegedly accused the Chief Minister of possessing multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad. After the questioning session ended late in the evening, Khera told reporters that he had cooperated fully with the investigation and had been directed to appear again before the Crime Branch on May 14.“I am fully cooperating and I have been asked to come again on May 14 at 9:30 AM and I will come,” Khera said while speaking to the media outside the Crime Branch office.
He described himself as a law-abiding citizen and said he respected legal procedures and the judicial system. Earlier in the day, before entering the Crime Branch office, Khera said he believed in due process and would cooperate with investigators. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later said that the investigation was progressing and the law would take its own course. Addressing reporters during a press conference, Sarma alleged that Khera had violated constitutional norms by writing to foreign governments seeking action against him. “The police investigations will not take long, and they will be able to submit the chargesheet within the stipulated time,” the Chief Minister said.He further stated that continued cooperation from Khera would help speed up the filing of either a chargesheet or final report, while non-cooperation could delay the investigation process.
According to officials, the Assam Police Crime Branch had registered cases against Khera under several legal provisions, including allegations related to making false statements during an election period, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine, intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace, and defamation. The matter has already gone through multiple stages of legal proceedings in different courts. Khera had initially obtained interim anticipatory bail from the Telangana High Court. Assam Police later challenged the order before the Supreme Court, which transferred the case to the Gauhati High Court for further hearing. The Gauhati High Court subsequently rejected Khera’s anticipatory bail plea, following which he again moved the Supreme Court seeking relief. The apex court later granted anticipatory bail to the Congress leader and observed during the hearing that the matter appeared to have emerged from political rivalry.
