The uproar over the alleged Pakistan connection of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife has now reached a new turn. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Assam government has submitted its report to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma claims that “shocking facts” have come to light in this report. The report was submitted in the presence of SIT members Munna Prasad Gupta, Rosie Kalita, Pranabjyoti Goswami and Maitrayee Deka at the Lok Seva Bhavan. Chief Minister Sarma said that the SIT investigation points to a big conspiracy to undermine India’s sovereignty, in which the role of a British citizen (Gogoi’s wife) and Pakistani citizen Ali Tauqeer Sheikh has come to the fore. However, he refused to make the detailed report of the SIT public and said that first the government will examine it seriously.
Scope of investigation and allegations of Pakistan connection
The entire case originally started with an Assam CID investigation, which revealed links of Ali Tauqeer Sheikh of Pakistan and Climate Action Group CDKN. Sheikh’s professional contacts were reported to be linked to Gourav Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Coolburn. Chief Minister Sarma has previously alleged that Sheikh had visited India 18 times and these visits may be connected to the “shocking revelations”. The SIT also questioned at least nine people, including Coolburn, during its investigation. The government says that due to the foreign enemy country angle in the case, it may be considered to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
On 17th February, 2025 the Assam Cabinet constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the anti-India activities of one Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, and his associates.
During the course of this exhaustive investigation, the SIT has unearthed… pic.twitter.com/dWJ0MAEXzj
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 10, 2025
Gogoi and Congress counterattack
The allegations against Gourav Gogoi first came to light in February this year, when Chief Minister Sarma raised questions about his wife’s former British citizenship and alleged links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. He also said that in 2015, Gogoi met the High Commissioner of Pakistan despite India’s objections. However, Gogoi has consistently rejected all these allegations. He says that his wife is an Indian citizen and he has no business or personal relationship with Pakistan. In May, Gogoi targeted Chief Minister Sarma, saying that he is misusing the state machinery to target the opposition. The Congress party has also described these allegations as motivated by electoral politics.
#WATCH | Guwahati, Assam | Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, "He (Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) thinks that people of Assam are foolish enough to believe his wild allegations. He does not respect the intelligence and the wisdom of the people of Assam. The people of Assam know that… pic.twitter.com/OHAzIWWrr3
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2025
Sarma accused of hiding corruption
Amid the new controversy over the SIT report, Gourav Gogoi hit back at Chief Minister Sarma. He said that the Chief Minister wants to hide the massive corruption spread in his government by making fabricated statements. Gogoi said, “The people of Assam know that the Chief Minister has created a fabricated story based only on allegations to hide his corrupt governance and the family’s immense wealth and illegal earnings.” Gogoi claimed that the people of Assam have already made up their mind to oust the BJP government from power. He said that the resentment against the current government has grown so much that a large number of leaders and intellectuals are joining the Congress.
