Guwahati: Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera skipped his scheduled appearance before the Assam Police Crime Branch on Friday in connection with a defamation case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, with the Congress stating that he was attending an official party programme in Bengaluru.
According to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Khera is participating in the Congress event ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, where senior party leader Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to take part. The party cited the engagement as the reason for his inability to appear before investigators.
The Crime Branch had summoned Khera for questioning as part of its ongoing investigation into the defamation case. Friday marked the third scheduled appearance that Khera did not attend after receiving notices from the investigating agency.
However, Khera has previously appeared before the Assam Police Crime Branch on two occasions, during which he was questioned in connection with the case.
The defamation case was initiated following a complaint filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Earlier in the proceedings, Khera secured interim bail from the Supreme Court in relation to the matter.
The investigation is continuing, and there was no immediate statement from the Assam Police on the next course of action following Khera’s absence before the Crime Branch on Friday.
