Himanta's wife passport row: Congress MP Randeep Surjewala summoned by Assam police on Saturday

NEW DELHI: The Assam crime branch has summoned Congress MP and senior party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala to appear before investigators in Guwahati on May 23 in connection with the ongoing passport controversy involving Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.The summons forms part of an expanding probe by the Assam Police into allegations levelled by Congress leaders against Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera had earlier publicly raised questions over alleged discrepancies in her passport records and citizenship status, triggering a political and legal confrontation.The development comes as the investigation gathers momentum following the questioning of Khera earlier this month.He was interrogated for nearly eight hours by the crime branch in Guwahati, after which Surjewala’s name reportedly emerged during the course of the inquiry, prompting investigators to issue fresh summons.The case stems from allegations made by Khera regarding Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, which led to criminal complaints being registered against him at the Guwahati crime branch under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Khera has since moved the Gauhati high court, challenging its April 24 order that denied him anticipatory bail in the matter.After appearing before the crime branch earlier, Khera refrained from offering detailed comments on the specifics of the investigation. However, he maintained that the Congress would continue its political campaign against the BJP-led government in Assam, signalling that the party does not intend to retreat from its allegations.The probe has attracted national attention, with Assam police indicating that more Congress leaders could be called in for questioning as the investigation progresses. The summoning of Surjewala, a senior national figure in the party, is likely to escalate the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP in the state.The Congress has alleged that the investigation is politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices, while the BJP has defended the police action, asserting that the issue pertains to accountability and maintaining dignity in public discourse.