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Row Erupts Over Alleged Foreign Wealth Links of Assam CM’s Family

By AT News |
Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Media Department, AICC, addresses a press conference in the presence of Gaurav Gogoi, President of APCC, and Bhupesh Baghel, at Guwahati on April 5, 2026. (Pix by UB Photos)
Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Media Department, AICC, addresses a press conference in the presence of Gaurav Gogoi, President of APCC, and Bhupesh Baghel, at Guwahati on April 5, 2026. (Pix by UB Photos)

A major political controversy has erupted around Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Congress party levelled serious allegations regarding the alleged accumulation of vast wealth abroad by his family, particularly involving his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.

According to a report by The Wire, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that assets worth nearly ₹52,000 crore have been stashed overseas, particularly in the United States, through a company allegedly linked to the Chief Minister’s family.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and questioned the source of such large-scale wealth. He further demanded a probe and even called for disqualification of Sarma from electoral participation, alleging non-disclosure of assets.

A key point in the controversy is the alleged incorporation of a US-based company in the state of Wyoming — widely known for its low-disclosure corporate regime. The company, named HRINIKINANDI LLC, was reportedly set up for a hospitality venture. The filing exists in official Wyoming state records, confirming the company’s registration, though ownership details are not publicly disclosed.

However, Chief Minister Sarma has categorically denied all allegations, describing them as “baseless”, “fabricated”, and “politically motivated”. He has also announced plans to initiate both civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the Congress leader.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of elections, with both sides engaging in sharp exchanges. Reports indicate that the Chief Minister has dismissed the allegations as part of a broader attempt to malign his reputation. Notably, official election affidavits filed earlier show that Sarma and his wife jointly declared assets of around ₹35.16 crore, a figure significantly lower than the amount cited in the allegations. The issue has sparked a wider debate on transparency, offshore financial structures, and the use of jurisdictions like Wyoming, where beneficial ownership is not publicly accessible. While the existence of the US-based company is verifiable through official records, the claims linking it directly to undisclosed wealth remain unproven and contested.

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Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org
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