Assam Crime Branch summons Randeep Surjewala in Riniki Bhuyan passport controversy

The Assam Crime Branch has summoned senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala to appear before investigators on May 23 in connection with the controversy surrounding allegations linked to Riniki Bhuyan Sarma wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reported ANIThe development comes days after another Congress leader Pawan Khera was questioned by the Crime Branch in Guwahati regarding the same casePawan Khera questioned by Crime BranchAfter appearing before investigators Pawan Khera said he had fully cooperated with the investigation and confirmed that he had been asked to appear again on May 25Speaking to reporters in Guwahati Khera said he answered all questions put to him during the inquiry and stressed that citizens should cooperate with investigative agenciesldquoI was asked all the questions that are usually asked during an investigation I have been called next on May 25 I will come again because every responsible citizen must cooperate with an investigationrdquo Khera said reported ANIWhen asked whether he continued to stand by his earlier allegations regarding Riniki Bhuyan Sarma Khera declined to comment further saying he would restrict his remarks to the investigation process reported ANIControversy began after Congress allegationsThe controversy began after Pawan Khera during a press conference in April alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed three passports from India the United Arab Emirates and EgyptKhera also claimed that she owned undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai and had links to a company based in Wyoming in the United StatesThe allegations triggered a political controversy in Assam with the ruling BJP strongly rejecting the claimsThe family of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma denied all allegations and described the documents circulated online as fabricated material generated using artificial intelligence reported ANIHimanta Biswa Sarma responds sharply to allegationsReacting to the accusations earlier Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress leaders of spreading false information and warned of legal action reported ANIThe chief minister also questioned why Congress leaders had not verified the claims through official channels before making public statementsldquoBefore levelling an allegation he should have asked the Foreign Ministerrdquo Sarma had said while criticising the Congress leadership over the issue reported ANISarma further alleged that the controversial documents may have been circulated through Pakistani social media groups and claimed the matter could eventually involve senior Congress leaders including Rahul GandhiPolitical tensions escalate over investigationThe case has intensified political tensions between the BJP government in Assam and the Congress party with both sides accusing each other of misinformation and political targeting reported ANIHimanta Biswa Sarma had earlier claimed that Pawan Khera had travelled to Hyderabad after police searches were conducted in DelhildquoI have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi but he has run away to Hyderabad The law will take its own courserdquo Sarma had said reported ANIThe Assam Crime Branch has not yet publicly disclosed further details about the scope of the investigation or the specific allegations being examinedThe summons issued to Randeep Surjewala marks the latest development in the ongoing probe which continues to draw political attention both within Assam and at the national levelWith inputs from ANI