New Delhi, April 8 – As the Assam Police intensifies its search operation for Congress leader Pawan Khera over allegations of "defamatory and malicious" charges against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the Congress leader emerged from hiding on Wednesday and demanded that the Chief Minister respond to the serious allegations against him and his wife, rather than resorting to intimidation and "hiding behind the state police".
Pawan Khera, who had been untraceable after holding a press conference in the election-bound state on Sunday, issued a video statement, stating that he would not be intimidated by such tactics and would continue to ask questions.
The Congress shared Pawan Khera's video statement on its X account, purportedly recorded from an undisclosed location, in which its Media and Publicity Department Chairman tells the Assam Chief Minister, "Instead of clarifying on these grave allegations, you have deployed your police. But, we, the supporters of Rahul Gandhi, will not be intimidated."
Pawan Khera has been under the scrutiny of the Assam police following his sensational allegations against Chief Minister Sarma's wife, and has also been booked under 14 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
On Tuesday, the Assam Police searched Pawan Khera's residence in Delhi, while on Wednesday, barricades were set up outside the Congress leader's residence in Hyderabad.
Responding to the police's search, Khera said, "About 100 policemen searched my small residence in Delhi; they confiscated an old phone, a laptop, USB drives, and an iPad."
In a message to Assam Chief Minister, Congress leader Khera said, "You are sending your police wherever I go. Why do you want to silence our (Congress) voice? You should initiate an investigation into these allegations, but instead, you are sending your police to apprehend us. We will not be intimidated by your empty threats. We are the Congressmen; we are the supporters of Rahul Gandhi."
He noted that he would continue to avoid the Assam Police because he wants to keep asking questions and urged Chief Minister Sarma to investigate the allegations, stating that "the documents and internet domains where these details are mentioned are all in the public domain".
The Congress also, throwing its support behind Pawan Khera, urged the Assam CM, "If you have the courage, respond to them – hiding behind the police and resorting to indecent language will not get you anywhere."
"The people of Assam already know your full story – they will deliver their verdict against you tomorrow (in the Assam polls)," it added.
The controversy, subsequent FIR, and police raids began after Pawan Khera's press conference on Sunday, in which he claimed that Chief Minister Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, possessed three passports, undeclared luxury properties in Dubai, and shell companies in the US.