Gogoi’s ‘Pak links’ case to be referred to MHA; SIT findings to be revealed today: Sarma

The Assam Cabinet has decided to refer the case of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday (February 7).

He maintained that there are “three key players” in the case – an MP, his British wife and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

Findings to be forwarded to MHA

Addressing a press conference after chairing a Cabinet meeting, Sarma said, “The Assam government had constituted an SIT to inquire into alleged anti-India conspiracy of Sheikh in connivance with a British citizen and an MP. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the matter, it was decided to hand it over to the MHA.”

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“The SIT report and the case registered on basis of which the probe was conducted will be forwarded to the MHA. It can use any of its investigating agencies to take it forward,” he said.

The chief minister said the Cabinet was of the view that the case “involves national security and is not a personal one, with three players involved”.

Findings to be made public today

Sarma and the BJP have been attacking Gogoi, who also heads the state Congress, over his wife’s alleged connection with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI.

The state government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a case of alleged interference of Sheikh, who was claimed to have links with Gogoi’s British wife Elizabeth Colburn, in India's internal affairs.

The SIT submitted its report to Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, on September 10, the date which was initially set by the chief minister for providing evidence to back his accusations against Gogoi.

After several delays, Sarma said the findings of the SIT would be made public on February 8 after discussion in the Cabinet. After the meeting, Sarma said the “information that is not confidential will be revealed at a press conference” on Sunday, with the Cabinet authorising him to do so.

Sarma talks NIA, IB, CBI

The chief minister claimed the probe will “go much ahead when it reaches the Centre”. “We have limitations in our probe. Yet, within these limits, what we have gathered is very important. When it reaches the NIA or IB or CBI, they will take it ahead,” he said.

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“What we have done is just 10 per cent, 90 per cent is yet to be found out,” Sarma claimed.

Without naming Gogoi, Sarma said, “I can at least confirm that an honourable MP from Assam visited Pakistan when his father was the chief minister.” Gaurav’s father, late Tarun Gogoi, had helmed Congress governments in the state from 2001 to 2016.

The CM claimed that information of the MP’s visit to Pakistan was not shared with the central government, adding that he had “blacked out” of social media for the duration of his stay in the neighbouring country.

The reality of Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth

Gogoi has maintained that Sarma’s remarks were “ridiculous, baseless, insane and nonsense”, and that he was behaving like an “IT cell troll” without talking facts.

His wife, Elizabeth, is a British citizen and an expert in climate policy. With a background from the London School of Economics, she previously worked with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), managing projects across South Asia.

Her past professional work in Pakistan and her British citizenship have been dug up by Sarma to attack Gogoi politically, especially ahead of the Assembly elections this spring-summer.

Sarma claims ‘religious conversion’ too

Sarma also did not rule out the “angle of religious conversion”, though he refused to share details.

He said “sensitive information and materials” have been obtained by the SIT from various sources, though it was not possible for the state-level investigating agency to take forward the probe beyond a point.

Also read: Gaurav Gogoi: EC's neutrality questionable; Oppn wants discussion in Parliament

“Help from the Interpol is required. Sensitive information from the central government and Parliament is required. As such, it was decided to entrust the case to a central government agency as selected by the MHA,” Sarma said.

Sarma cited the instance that “there was proof” of one of the involved persons going to Pakistan between 2012 and 2016, but the Assam Police cannot collect telephonic evidence, “which can be done by a central agency”.

“The government of Assam has conducted very good investigation. But, it is not enough as foreign nationals are involved,” he added.

(With agency inputs)