Pawan Khera Appears for Third Round of Questioning in Assam Defamation Case

Senior Congress leader and head of the party's media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch in Guwahati on Thursday for another round of questioning in a defamation case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Khera arrived at the Crime Branch office in the morning and briefly spoke to reporters before entering. He stated that he has always respected the legal process and will continue to cooperate with the investigation whenever summoned.

"I always try to appear whenever I am summoned. I could not come on the previous two occasions because I was unwell once and had responsibilities related to the Rajya Sabha the other time. I have not been told the reason for today's summons, but I will cooperate with the investigation. However many times I am called, I will appear," he said.

During his interaction with reporters, Khera also raised concerns about recurring examination paper leaks across the country. He claimed that such incidents have shaken the confidence of students and parents and said the issue requires serious attention from both the government and the opposition.

He questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), alleging that crucial stages of the examination process, including paper setting, printing, transportation, and evaluation, have increasingly been outsourced. According to him, the system needs greater transparency and accountability.

Khera also spoke about the flood situation in Assam, saying the condition in several parts of Upper Assam remains alarming. Referring to reports of deaths and missing persons, he appealed to both the central and state governments to ensure that relief, rescue, and rehabilitation reach affected families without delay. He added that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi had already visited flood-hit areas following directions from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

The defamation case against Khera relates to remarks he made during the 2026 Assam Assembly election campaign, when he alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple foreign passports and undisclosed foreign assets. The allegations were strongly denied by both the Chief Minister and his wife, who described them as false, baseless, and politically motivated.

Following the remarks, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma lodged a defamation complaint with the Assam Police Crime Branch, which registered a case and launched an investigation. The Supreme Court later granted Khera interim protection from arrest while directing him to cooperate with the probe.

Thursday's appearance marked Khera's third visit to the Crime Branch in connection with the case. The questioning continued for several hours as investigators carried forward the probe.