Guwahati, 14 May (HS): Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera on Thursday appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch office for the second consecutive day to join the ongoing investigation. He had been allowed to leave on Wednesday night after nearly 10 hours of interrogation.

Notably, until Khera came out of the Crime Branch office on Wednesday night, a Congress delegation led by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi remained present outside the office near a tea stall in Guwahati. Khera has been summoned in connection with allegations made regarding multiple foreign passports allegedly linked to Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Speaking to media persons outside the Crime Branch office on Wednesday, Khera had said that he has complete faith in the judiciary and would fully cooperate with the investigation. During the questioning session, he was reportedly served Assam’s 'peda' along with tea. When Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was asked about the matter after offering prayers at the Kamakhya Temple on Thursday, he remarked that Assam’s 'peda' is delicious.

It may be mentioned that after making the allegations during a press conference in Guwahati, Khera had allegedly remained out of public view for some time. Following this, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma lodged an FIR with the Crime Branch, describing the allegations as false. Subsequently, when an Assam Police team reached Delhi to arrest him, Khera allegedly went underground.

Meanwhile, Khera approached first the Telangana High Court and later the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail. However, the apex court directed him to move the Gauhati High Court for relief. The Gauhati High Court later granted him anticipatory bail with several conditions, following which he has been appearing before the Crime Branch for interrogation.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash