Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.
Credit: PTI Photos
Guwahati: Assam police on Monday registered a case with CID and formed an SIT to investigate against Ali Tauqueer Sheikh, a Pakistan-based climate activist, amid CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's suspicion about his links with wife of deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi.
The case was registered when Gaurav claimed that Sarma was targeting him and his wife out of fear of losing the Assembly elections in 2026 to Congress.
Director general of Assam police, Harmeet Singh told reporters that the SIT would probe into Ali's "anti-India" activities and his links with any other persons in India.
The state cabinet on Sunday asked the DGP to register a case as CM Sarma claimed that Elizabeth Colbourne, a British national, who married Gaurav Gogoi in 2013, had worked in Lead Pakistan, an NGO headed by Ali. Sarma claimed that Elizabeth had visited Pakistan even after her marriage with Gaurav. The CM and a few other BJP leaders had suspected her links with ISI.
Welcoming the police case, Gaurav on Monday told reporters that the "disinformation" they were spreading "exposed their weakness" and fears about lossing the elections in 2026.
"He is scared about the fact that he will have to answer to the questions being asked by the people about corruption of his family, failure to provide jobs and others after a Congress-led government is formed in 2026." Gaurav said.
Sarma on Sunday claimed that Elizabeth had worked closely during campaigning for Gaurav in the last two Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and 2024. "So police will also look into whether she flouted her visa norms by taking part in the election process of India."
Sarma had earlier questioned why Gogoi visited the office of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi with a group of youths associated with his think tank, Youth Forum on Foreign Policy.
Gaurav called the allegation malicious and baseless and warned about legal action. "I have already consulted the legal team of AICC for necessary action," he said on Monday.