Congress leader Pawan Khera appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch here on Wednesday for questioning in connection with criminal complaints filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, over allegations that she possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad.
Khera reached the Crime Branch office in compliance with a police summons linked to cases lodged by Sarma after he made the allegations during the election campaign.
Before entering the office, Khera told reporters that he was cooperating with the investigation.
"I have been summoned by the police and have come accordingly. We respect the law and the judiciary, so I am here as per legal procedure," Khera said.
He added that he would address the media in detail after the questioning was completed.
Sarma had filed criminal complaints against Khera and others at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Also read: Pawan Khera granted pre-arrest bail in defamation case
The charges against the Congress leader include making false statements in connection with an election, cheating, forgery, using forged documents as genuine, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and defamation.
Earlier, Assam Police had visited Khera’s residence in Delhi to serve legal notices, but he was not present at the time.
Khera had initially moved the Telangana High Court, which granted him seven-day transit anticipatory bail. Assam Police later challenged the order in the Supreme Court of India.
The apex court stayed the transit bail order and directed Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court.
The Gauhati High Court subsequently rejected his anticipatory bail plea, following which he again moved the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court later granted him anticipatory bail, observing that the matter appeared to have stemmed from political rivalry.
A local court in Guwahati had earlier rejected Assam Police’s plea seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant against the Congress leader.
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