The Assam Police have registered a case against Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and others under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), following a decision by the state cabinet, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday.
The case, filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), is registered as CID case PS No 05/2025 under sections 48, 152, 61, and 197(1) of the BNS, 2023, read with section 13(1) of the UAPA.
Taking to the social media platform X, Sarma stated, "In pursuance of the Cabinet decision taken yesterday, Assam Police has lodged an FIR and the same had been registered against Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and unknown others."
The Assam cabinet, in a meeting held on February 16, directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to initiate legal action against Sheikh and to conduct a probe into what it termed as an 'anti-India agenda'.
The Chief Minister also responded to remarks made by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi regarding legal action, suggesting that the investigation would be expedited if the matter were taken to court.
"India is a democratic country. Everybody can take appropriate action. If he goes to the Court, it will be very good. Then many matters which today we cannot speak of, we can speak before the judge...If he decides to go to the court, we will welcome that and this will expedite the process of inquiry. If anybody is innocent, they will be declared innocent by the court of law. We have no objection to it but this matter needs to be investigated very seriously," Sarma said at a press conference.
According to the resolution adopted by the Assam cabinet, scrutiny of Sheikh's social media activity and publicly available information indicated his connection with Elizabeth Gogoi, a British national and wife of Gaurav Gogoi.
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"Following scrutiny of Ali Sheikh's social media activity and information available in the public domain, it appears that he has been in contact with Elizabeth Gogoi a British national and wife of Gaurav Gogoi," the resolution stated.
The cabinet further directed the DGP to carry out an extensive inquiry to ascertain whether Sheikh's activities form part of a larger conspiracy and to identify any sympathisers or associates within Assam and across India who may be aiding his alleged anti-India agenda.
"The State of Assam has historically remained a hotspot for ISI-sponsored activities, necessitating heightened vigilance and decisive action," the resolution added.
Sarma read from the resolution, emphasising that recent social media posts and news reports have raised concerns about Sheikh's activities, which include commentary on India's internal affairs and parliamentary matters.
"Additionally, a perusal of his social media activity included exhaustive commentary on India's internal affairs and Parliamentary matters, raising serious concerns....Closer examination of information from public domain reveal that Ali Sheikh is an influential individual with pervasive roots in Govt of Pakistan and its leadership, having even represented the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the international forum," Sarma stated.
The resolution highlighted Sheikh's association with 'Lead Pakistan', a non-profit organisation focused on climate change, and indicated that Elizabeth Gogoi had been an integral part of this group during her time in Islamabad.
It further pointed to their involvement in the 'Climate and Development Knowledge Network', a global climate action group operating in both India and Pakistan.
The Assam cabinet expressed concerns regarding the explicit involvement of a Pakistan-based leader and others in matters concerning India's internal affairs, questioning the group's actual intent and operations.
"In the light of these facts and given the historical attempts of Pakistani State and non-State actors to destabilise Assam, the state government takes Ali Sheikh's attempt to interfere in the domestic matters of Assam and India with utmost seriousness," the resolution concluded.
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