Akhil Gogoi seeks CBI probe into claims of Sarma & wife holding foreign assets

Guwahati: Raijor Dal, an ally in the Congress-led opposition alliance here, on Tuesday demanded a CBI investigation into Congress’s allegation that CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family own properties in a foreign nation.

Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, who is contesting from the Sivasagar assembly seat, said, “Rinki Bhuyan Sharma holds passports of three foreign nations. If an Indian citizen holds a passport of any other country, then his or her Indian citizenship gets cancelled immediately. My demand is that her citizenship should be cancelled and steps should be initiated to arrest her.”

He also sought an inquiry into the allegation that CM Himanta Biswa Sarma owns properties in a foreign nation. “His candidature in this election should be disqualified, and he should resign immediately for the sake of a fair investigation during a CBI probe,” he added.

Gogoi, criticising Sarma over the police raid at Congress media and publicity chairman Pawan Khera’s Delhi residence, termed state govt’s actions as authoritarian, likening them to a “Hitler-style govt.”

Speaking to the media, Gogoi said all the people of Assam would vote for the opposition and accused the CM of hiding behind the police.

“Khera raised questions, and those should be answered directly. The CM doesn’t have the courage and is using the police instead. From his body language, it seems his wife has accumulated these assets. We will form govt, and all three Gogois will win,” Gogoi said.

A team from the Crime Branch police station, Guwahati, led by DCP Debajit Nath, conducted a search at the residence of Khera in Delhi on Tuesday. This came a day after Riniki Bhuyan Sharma lodged an FIR against Khera. Riniki lodged the FIR hours after Khera accused Riniki of holding passports from the UAE, Egypt, and Antigua and Barbuda, and of having a limited liability company in the US.