Guwahati, May 13 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday was questioned for more than 11 hours by Assam Police at the Guwahati Crime Branch in connection with a case linked to a First Information Report lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Khera came out of the Crime Branch office late in the evening after a marathon round of interrogation by police officials.

Speaking to reporters, the Congress leader said he had been summoned again on Thursday morning for further questioning.

“I have been asked to appear again tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. at the Crime Branch office,” Khera told mediapersons after the questioning session.

He also maintained that he had been fully cooperating with the investigating team and asserted that he respects the law.

“I am cooperating with the police. I am a law-abiding citizen and will continue to cooperate with the investigation,” the Congress leader said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court of India granted anticipatory bail to Khera in the matter, providing him protection from arrest while directing him to cooperate with the investigation.

Speaking briefly to mediapersons outside the Crime Branch office, Khera said he has faith in the judiciary and would abide by the law.

The case stems from a complaint lodged by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.

The complaint was filed over Khera’s public allegations that she possessed multiple foreign passports and had financial interests abroad.

The First Information Report invokes several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to false statements in connection with elections, cheating, forgery of valuable security, forgery of public records, using forged documents as genuine, intentional insult and defamation.

Khera had initially approached the Telangana High Court, which granted him one week’s transit anticipatory bail on April 10 to seek regular relief before the competent court in Assam.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the transit anticipatory bail and clarified that any plea filed before the competent court in Assam would be considered independently.

It later declined Khera’s request to vacate the stay or extend interim protection.

Khera then moved the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

The High Court rejected the plea, observing that the matter was not one of simple defamation and that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the source of the documents cited by him.

–IANS

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