Sarma accused the Congress of using fabricated documents to influence outcome of the upcoming state elections and warned of “life imprisonment” for the same.

“When you use these allegations with fabricated documents to influence a result or outcome of an election, then it attracts higher penalty provisions, and the punishment for that is life imprisonment,” Sarma said, addressing a press conference on Monday.

Khera had also alleged Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan has undisclosed business interests abroad. He also alleged the existence of properties in Dubai and companies in the United States linked to the Chief Minister’s family.

Responding to these claims earlier, Sarma had categorically denied the allegations, stating that one of the passports cited was “fake” and flagged discrepancies in the documents. He said confirmations from Dubai authorities and the Indian government indicated that the passport in question was not genuine.

Responding to the charges made by Khera against the CM’s spouse Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said in another press conference that holding multiple passports and failure to disclose properties is a grave and criminal offence.

The chairman of AICC’s media publicity and communication also alleged that Sarma’s wife has ”two properties in Dubai which clearly mention Riniki Bhuyan Sarma as the property owner” but neither is mentioned in the CM’s affidavits submitted to the ECI along with his nomination paper.

In the last 10 days, Pakistan channel has done at least 11 talk shows regarding the election in Assam, which never happened earlier, Sarma said.

“And in every talk show, the conclusion is that Congress should win. Pakistan’s link to yesterday’s press conference has also now become very, very apparent. I am sure that this will be taken into consideration by the law enforcement agency,” he said.

“…Normally, when you raise a certain issue before the public with fraudulent documents, it attracts 420 and 468 of the IPC. Of course, there is a correspondence provision in new BNS. When you use these allegations with fabricated documents to influence a result or outcome of an election, then it attracts higher penalty provisions, and the punishment for that is life imprisonment. Yesterday, my wife filed an FIR, and I am sure that the police will register the case in the appropriate section of law and take necessary action,” he added.

The assam chief minister said the original UAE passport — which Pawan Khera showed as Riniki Bhuyan’s — was uploaded on social media by a Pakistani man. “They (Congress) did AI Photoshop in the passport. Tipu Sultan had uploaded the original passport on social media. The Egyptian passport is also fake. You can find out through Google Reverse,” Sarma said.