Guwahati, April 7: The Embassy of Egypt in India has clarified that a document circulating on social media, purportedly showing an Egyptian passport in the name of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, is “forged” and not authentic.
In its statement, the Embassy said the document is not a valid passport but a fabricated copy with her name and photograph pasted onto it, dismissing the claim as false. The clarification comes amid a political controversy triggered by Congress leader Pawan Khera, who had alleged that Sharma possessed an Egyptian passport.
Responding earlier to the allegations, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma rejected the claims, suggesting she was being targeted for political reasons and asserting that neither she nor her family holds any foreign assets or documents.
Under Indian law, citizens are not permitted to hold multiple valid passports simultaneously. As per the Passports Act, 1967, holding more than one valid Indian passport is illegal, except in limited cases such as diplomatic or official passports issued for government purposes.
India also does not allow dual citizenship. This means an Indian citizen cannot legally possess a passport issued by another country without renouncing Indian citizenship. Holding multiple foreign passports while retaining Indian citizenship would be a violation of existing legal provisions.
The Embassy’s clarification adds a new dimension to the ongoing political exchange in Assam, where allegations and counter-allegations over foreign documents and assets have intensified ahead of the Assembly elections.
