Khera appears before crime branch in Guwahati in passport row case

Guwahati: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday appeared before the crime branch of the Guwahati police commissionerate in connection with a forgery and criminal case registered against him following a complaint by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.

The CM said the investigation will be completed within the stipulated time if Khera continues to cooperate fully.

Hours after Khera’s appearance before the police, Sarma said in his post-cabinet briefing that the law would take its own course in the case, which involves allegations by the Congress leader that Riniki possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad.

“As per the Supreme Court order, he appeared before the crime branch on Wednesday, and the police will definitely ask him questions. The law will take its own course, but we have already received in writing from the Union govt that the documents Khera displayed were fake,” Sarma said.

“If he continues to cooperate, the submission of the chargesheet or final report will be faster, but if he does not, it may take time. We want to conclude the case as soon as possible,” Sarma said.

Khera was granted pre-arrest bail by the Supreme Court on May 1 after being denied bail by the Gauhati high court. On April 6, Khera in a media conference accused Riniki of holding passports of UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbua. He had also accused the Sarma family of having assets abroad.

On Khera’s appearance before the police, advocate Reetam Singh said, “The Supreme Court gave Khera an anticipatory bail. A condition was imposed upon him that he must appear before Assam Police, and he must cooperate with the investigation. Today, Khera arrived in Guwahati at 10.30am and he went inside the DCP crime branch to give his statement.... He has also brought the evidence based upon which he had made those statements.”

Before entering the police station, Khera told the reporters, “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.”

The charges against Khera include making false statements in connection with an election, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and defamation.