Assam: As Pawan Khera Joins Assam Police Probe; CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Is Likely To Contend A Defamation Suit.

Guwahati; May 2026: Today, on 13th May 2026, Congress Leader Pawan Khera has appeared before the Guwahati Crime Branch to comply with the legal process of cooperating with the probe against him, after the wife of the Assam Chief Minister – Riniki Bhuyan Sharma had lodged a criminal complaint in pursuant to the allegations levelled by Pawan Khera during election campaigning, where he had claimed that she possessed multiple foreign passports and had financial interests abroad.

Earlier the Apex Court of India have granted anticipatory bail to Khera with a condition of cooperating with the Investigating team as and when required. Speaking briefly to the press today before entering the Crime Branch office, Khera said he is complying with the legal process and have faith in the judiciary. “I have been called and thus I am here to comply with the law and heading to the Guwahati Crime Branch. Let the interrogation and investigation take place. We honour justice and law”.

Meanwhile, despite the legal proceedings, the Congress maintained its support for Khera and defended the allegations made by him during the Assembly election campaign. Congress leader Shivamoni Borah said the party stood firmly behind Khera and claimed that the allegations raised by him were backed by evidence. “Many of the allegations are true and since Assam CM’s wife has filed a case against Khera, that’s why he is here. No one alleges or charges anyone without supporting documents and evidence. The interrogation is underway and details will emerge only after that”, Borah said.

Khera’s appearance before Assam Police also comes days after Himanta Biswa Sarma, immediately after leading the BJP-led NDA alliance to a sweeping electoral victory in Assam, made pointed remarks targeting the Congress leader. Speaking on May 04th after the election results, Sarma had said, “I had a commitment towards Pawan Khera as Supreme Court has adjudged him to mark attendance at Assam Police Station. Rest, the film will continue”. The Chief Minister had also alleged that Khera’s remarks during the election campaign emotionally hurt Assamese people and contributed to the Congress’ poor electoral performance.

Meanwhile, just hours after Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in for a second consecutive term as Assam Chief Minister, he is quite likely to face a defamation suit from the mother of an Opposition candidate over remarks allegedly made during the recently concluded Assembly election campaign.

It is Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, mother of Opposition Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Kunki Chowdhury, has said she is considering filing a defamation case of Re 1/- against Sarma and has demanded a public apology from him. In an open letter shared on social media yesterday (12th May 2026), Sujata described herself as a “common woman” whose name was “repeatedly uttered” by the Chief Minister during election rallies. She accused Sarma of making “false allegations” against her with “malafide intention” during the high-voltage campaign.

“Hon’ble CM Sirjee, it may be noted that your defamation suit will be for an amount of Rs 1.00 (Rupee one only) along with a public apology from you”, she wrote, without specifying when the suit would be filed. Sujata alleged that the remarks made by Sarma had led to her “character assassination” in public and endangered the lives of her family members. “Without knowing anything about me or my life, my food habits, my culture, my religion, my ideology or perhaps even me as a person, you called me a ‘beef eater’, a non-sanatani, an anti-India communist”, she alleged in the letter.

According to her, the comments were aimed at building an election narrative and gaining political mileage during the campaign. Sujata said her only connection with Sarma was through her daughter Kunki Chowdhury, a political debutante who contested from the Guwahati Central constituency as a candidate of the Opposition alliance and lost to BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Gupta. Explaining why she remained silent during the campaign, Sujata said she had refrained from responding earlier because “clarifying before a political hound does not make any sense. Now that you are Chief Minister and as an elected representative of the people, you are answerable to me and to the public; so this message to you”, she stated, while also congratulating Sarma on his electoral victory.

The 56 years old mother has further asserted that every citizen in India has the constitutional right to choose their religion, culture, food habits and ideology. She also alleged that photographs of her minor children had been circulated publicly, putting their safety at risk. “I have not only been defamed in public, but the photograph of my minor children being released in public domains has endangered their lives”, she claimed, signing off the letter as a “Hindu by birth and culture and not by politics”. Sujata maintained that while the issue may appear insignificant to a powerful political leader, it had become a “life-changing” experience for an ordinary citizen like her.

“Although you have won the election, my battle will continue as long as the common man like me keeps breathing”, she added. There was no immediate response from Sarma or the BJP on the allegations. Earlier, following the April 09 polling campaign, Sujata had approached the National Commission for Women, accusing Sarma of making “false, baseless and malicious” statements during the election campaign. In her complaint filed on April 11, she sought legal action against the Chief Minister for allegedly “inciting” people through “fake propaganda” and politically targeting her daughter.

Team Maverick.