Guwahati: Pawan Khera, Chairman of the National Media Department of the Indian National Congress, appeared before the Crime Branch headquarters in Guwahati on wednessday and faced questioning for more than ten hours in connection with a controversial remarks case.
After the marathon interrogation, Khera briefly spoke to the media and said he was fully cooperating with the investigation and would appear again on Wednesday as directed by the Crime Branch. He informed that he had been asked to appear again at 9:30 am.Speaking to reporters, Khera said, “I will come again and we all follow the rule of law. I have been called again tomorrow morning, and I will come again.” He further added, “I am cooperating and will continue to cooperate tomorrow as well. It is our duty to cooperate fully because we have a Constitution and we all respect the law.”
However, he declined to comment further on the matter despite repeated questions from journalists.
The Crime Branch questioned Khera as part of its investigation into a case related to alleged controversial remarks made against the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, during a press conference held in New Delhi and Guwahati, Khera had alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife possessed passports from three foreign countries and owned several foreign properties.
Describing the allegations as “false and motivated,” the Chief Minister’s wife had filed a complaint with the Crime Branch. The issue had triggered major political controversy across Assam.Following the registration of the case, Khera had approached the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but his plea was rejected. He later moved the Supreme Court of India, which granted him anticipatory bail while directing him to fully cooperate with the investigation. Acting in accordance with that direction, Khera appeared before the Crime Branch on Tuesday.Speaking to the media, advocate and Congress leader Ritam Singh described the questioning as a “marathon interrogation” and said it was a high-profile political case.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the matter is now completely under the legal process and the law will take its own course. He claimed that the Government of India had already received written responses from foreign countries stating that several documents cited in the allegations were either “incorrect” or “fake.”
The Chief Minister also said that the Crime Branch investigation would not take much time and a chargesheet would be filed within the stipulated period.
During the questioning at the Crime Branch office, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi, Congress leader Ripun Bora and several other Congress leaders were present outside the office in support of Khera, adding further political significance to the case.
The political circles in Assam are now closely watching the direction of the investigation and the next steps to be taken by the Crime Branch.
