Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has handed over the investigation into Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links case to the Central government.
The Chief Minister, while speaking on the matter on Tuesday said, “We have transferred this case with proofs to the Central government and the Central government will investigate the matter.”
The development comes amid the ongoing political row in Assam, with CM Sarma repeatedly alleging that Gogoi and his wife, Elizabeth Colburn, had links with Pakistan-based individuals.
Sarma has claimed that the duo have been involved in a plot to undermine India’s development through association with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
Earlier, the Assam government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the allegations. According to Sarma, the probe gathered material that required investigation beyond the jurisdiction of the state police, including aspects that may involve international coordination.
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Citing the sensitive nature of the evidence, Sarma had announced that the case would be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a comprehensive probe.
The Chief Minister has also alleged that Gogoi visited Pakistan on an invitation from the ISI and that his wife had professional associations with a Pakistani firm.
However, Gaurav Gogoi refuted to the allegations stating that the Chief Minister’s nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long media briefing produced no evidence to support such serious claims.
The Congress leader further claimed that the Chief Minister’s extended press briefing was driven by the rising influence of the Congress in the state. He further claimed that the Congress possesses documentary evidence regarding the alleged 12,000 bighas of land and said details were being uploaded by the public on the ‘Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma’ website.
