Guwahati: Congress leader Pawan Khera appeared before Assam Police’s Crime Branch on Thursday in a case filed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma‘s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma.The Rajya Sabha member arrived from New Delhi after being summoned. He sought exemption from earlier appearances, citing health issues and prior political commitments.Before entering the Crime Branch office, Khera said, “I have appeared before the Crime Branch in response to the notice issued to me. Earlier, I informed the investigating agency that I was unwell and also had pre-scheduled party programmes. They accepted my request.”The Crime Branch summoned him on July 17 after he missed earlier appearances.Riniki lodged the complaint on April 6 over statements Khera made at a media interaction and on social media. She accused him of making false and defamatory allegations about her citizenship, foreign passports and financial interests abroad.Police registered an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions relating to cheating, forgery, using forged documents as genuine, false statements, intentional insult and defamation.
