"AI Photoshopped": Himanta Biswa Sarma Slams Congress Over Wife’s Fake Passport Claims

Assam CM vs. Congress: The Battle of "Fabricated" Passports and Pakistani Links

As the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 approach their peak, the political climate in the state has reached a boiling point. In a dramatic press conference held on Monday, April 6, 2026, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma delivered a blistering rebuttal to allegations made by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi.

The controversy centers on claims that the Chief Minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, holds multiple active foreign passports—a charge Sarma dismisses as a "crime against the nation" orchestrated with the help of foreign elements.

The Allegations: Three Passports and Undisclosed Assets

The row began on Sunday when Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sharma possesses active passports from the UAE, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt. Khera further claimed that the CM had concealed his wife’s ownership of two properties in Dubai and a company registered in Wyoming, USA, in his official election affidavits.

According to Indian law, dual citizenship is strictly prohibited, making these allegations—if true—a grave criminal offense.

Sarma’s Counter-Strike: "The Truth Uncovered"

Chief Minister Sarma didn't just deny the claims; he presented a detailed presentation titled "How the Truth Was Uncovered." His defense rested on several explosive points:

• Pakistani Social Media Link: Sarma alleged that the "entire material" for the Congress press conference was supplied by a Pakistani social media group. He claimed that a Pakistani man had uploaded the original images, which were then manipulated.

• AI Photoshopping: The CM asserted that the passport images were "AI Photoshopped." He pointed out that Google Reverse Image searches linked the "original" documents to an Egyptian citizen and other foreign nationals, not his wife.

• Technical Errors: Sarma noted fundamental errors in the fabricated documents, such as the incorrect spelling of his surname as "Sharma" (the CM spells it Sarma) and mismatched birth dates.

• Verified Fakes: He confirmed that the Dubai government and the Indian government have already flagged at least one of the cited passports as a blatant fake.

Legal Consequences and Election Impact

The Chief Minister warned that using fraudulent documents to influence an election outcome is a serious offense that could attract life imprisonment under the law.

"Normally, raising an issue with fraudulent documents attracts sections of the IPC/BNS. But when used to influence an election, higher penalty provisions apply," Sarma stated.

Riniki Bhuyan Sharma has already filed a First Information Report (FIR) and is initiating both criminal and civil defamation cases against Pawan Khera.

A Pattern of Foreign Interference?

Sarma also highlighted a suspicious spike in interest from across the border. He claimed that in the last 10 days, Pakistani media channels have aired at least 11 talk shows supporting a Congress victory in the Assam elections—an occurrence he described as unprecedented and "very important" for voters to consider.

 The Court of Law vs. The Court of Public Opinion

With the single-phase Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026, this controversy is set to be the final major flashpoint before voters head to the booths. While the Congress demands a probe into the CM's family assets, the BJP stands firm on its narrative of "fake news" and foreign conspiracy.

As Sarma puts it, "Once the truth is established in a court of law, those responsible will face the consequences."