Passport row: Assam cops search Khera's Delhi home; Ramesh calls it 'witch hunt'

Guwahati: A team of Assam Police reached at Congress leader Pawan Khera's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday and carried out a search in connection with a case filed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife over his allegations of multiple passports and undeclared assets.

Khera was not at his home when the police searched his house.

The controversy began after Khera alleged that Riniki holds multiple passports, has properties in the US, UAE and has parked money in shell companies.


A police official said, "A case has been registered. We wanted to talk to Pawan Khera but couldn't meet him as he is not here. We found some things in his house, but I cannot disclose the details. We don't know where he is right now, but we will trace him."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X and said, "The deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest my colleague Pawan Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is disturbed, desperate, and rattled. This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide. It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat."

Sarma claimed that Khera had "fled" the national capital and was hiding in Hyderabad. He further asserted that the allegations made by the Congress leader had been disproved. "It has been proven that all the documents are fake. Egypt has said that it's a fake passport. Dubai said that it is fake. The United States has confirmed that there are no assets owned by Riniki in the country. So, it's all fake. Till the day before, he dared us to arrest him, but now he has fled," the Assam CM said.

He added, "Assam Police will find him from wherever he is and bring him in. Law will take its own course." "If you don't know the truth, how can you put such documents in the public domain? Before making allegations, they should have approached the Ministry of External Affairs for verification," Sarma said.

The CM hinted that the investigation could expand beyond Khera.