Assam CM directs DGP to register case against Pakistan's Ali Sheikh amid row over Gaurav Gogoi's wife

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 16 directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against Ali Sheikh under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant laws, while launching an extensive probe into a potential larger conspiracy.

Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Elizabeth Gogoi, wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, has links to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a Pakistani national with deep connections in Islamabad’s government and diplomatic circles.

According to CM Sarma, multiple reports, social media activity, and other publicly available information suggest that Ali Sheikh has been actively commenting on India's internal affairs and Parliamentary matters, raising suspicions about his motives. 

Investigations reveal that Ali Sheikh is a prominent individual with close ties to the Government of Pakistan and has even represented the country on international platforms. In light of historical attempts by Pakistan’s state and non-state actors to destabilize Assam, the Assam government is treating these developments with the utmost seriousness.

Further scrutiny indicates that Ali Sheikh has been in contact with Elizabeth Gogoi, a British national who was actively involved with 'Lead Pakistan', a non-profit organization focusing on climate change, during her stay in Islamabad. The Assam government has raised concerns over her association with Ali Sheikh and the broader agenda of 'The Climate and Development Knowledge Network' (CDKN), an organization that operates in both India and Pakistan.

CM Sarma questioned the explicit involvement of a Pakistani-based leader in matters concerning India's internal affairs, casting doubts on the actual objectives of the organizations involved.

The Assam Cabinet has issued the following directives:

The DGP has been instructed to file a case against Ali Tauqeer Sheikh under BNS and other applicable laws. A comprehensive investigation will be conducted to uncover any sympathizers or associates within Assam and across India who may have aided Sheikh’s alleged anti-India agenda.

"National security agencies will collaborate in the probe to assess the extent of foreign influence on India’s internal matters", CM Sarma stated that the government is acting purely out of national security concerns. The case could potentially be escalated to a central investigative agency, given the seriousness of the allegations.

The allegations have sparked a political storm, with the Assam government planning to formally notify the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Bora regarding the matter.