In a significant development that has sent ripples through the political landscape, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a press conference on Sunday to bring to light the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to the state government, this probe has uncovered details pointing toward a widespread, foreign-connected attempt to shape and influence the internal political and policy discussions within India.

Due to the complex nature of the findings, the Cabinet in Assam has officially decided to hand over the entire case to the Ministry of Home Affairs. They cited limits on their own legal jurisdiction and emphasized the necessity for a central agency to take the lead in an investigation of this magnitude.

Speaking at length from Loksewa Bhawan, Mr. Sarma explained that the investigation centers on a specific document. The SIT examined a 45-page report dating back to 2014, authored by Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, the wife of Congress Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi. This document was reportedly shared with Lead Pakistan, a not-for-profit organization based in Pakistan.

Mr. Sarma was careful to clarify the exact nature of the government's apprehension. The concern is not merely about a report being written, but rather that Elizabeth Gogoi’s work allegedly cited confidential assessments from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) while evaluating the political atmosphere in India after the central government changed hands in 2014.

“The issue is that the document prepared by Elizabeth Gogoi and sent to a Pakistan-based organisation quoted IB assessments and used them to build a political and strategic narrative about India,” Mr. Sarma stated during the briefing.

The Chief Minister elaborated that the report analyzed the shifting political climate post-2014 and reached the conclusion that “conventional engagement” with the central government of India “would no longer be effective”.

To counter this, the report allegedly proposed a different way of operating, which it described as “low reach, low visibility”. It recommended that future activities should avoid the Union government entirely and instead be routed through state governments, municipal bodies, and sub-national institutions.

Mr. Sarma pointed out that the content of the report went far beyond typical discussions on climate change or development. Instead, it delved deep into India’s internal governance, social dynamics, and political strategies, which raised immediate red flags given that the recipient of this information was a foreign entity.

Ali Tauqeer Sheikh & The Network of Influence in Pakistan

The SIT investigation has reportedly confirmed the destination of this report. The Chief Minister stated that the document was submitted directly to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. The Assam government describes Mr. Sheikh as a Pakistani national who holds significant influence and is associated with the Planning Commission of Pakistan. He also serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Lead Pakistan.

Mr. Sarma alleged that Mr. Sheikh has a history of taking positions that are critical of India. This includes his views on sensitive topics such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam, inter-faith marriages, communal relations, and internal security. Furthermore, while operating under the guise of a climate activist, he has strongly supported Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty.

“These writings and social media posts show a pattern. They portray India as discriminatory, question Assam’s place within India, and push narratives aligned with Pakistan’s political interests. This is not neutral environmental advocacy,” Mr. Sarma noted.

The investigation team noted a curious development after the probe began. The SIT documented that Mr. Sheikh deleted several articles and social media posts that were related to Assam and India.

“Normally, a state police investigation would not provoke such deletions,” Mr. Sarma said, observing that this specific reaction “raises serious suspicion.”

Financial Pathway & Connections with Lead India

Another key aspect of the SIT’s inquiry involved the financial and organizational relationships between Lead Pakistan and Lead India. The probe focused specifically on the timeframe during which Elizabeth Gogoi was connected to this network.

According to the details shared by Mr. Sarma, Lead India was a recipient of funds from Lead Pakistan during this specific period. Furthermore, it is alleged that Elizabeth Gogoi’s salary was paid using funds originating from Pakistan, even though she was living in India and reporting to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

The SIT has marked this financial setup as highly irregular. Under the foreign contribution laws of India, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from Pakistan are usually strictly prohibited from providing funding to organizations within India.

“This appears to be an exceptional case,” Mr. Sarma remarked. He added that executing such transactions would have required government clearances that are “extremely difficult, if not impossible,” to obtain without the help of additional facilitators.

Patterns of Travel & Movement Across Borders

The investigation also tracked the physical movements of the individuals involved. The SIT has documented multiple journeys made by Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi to Pakistan. These trips included travel via the land route at Attari. Simultaneously, the probe noted that Ali Tauqeer Sheikh made frequent visits to India during the same period.

Mr. Sarma highlighted that Mr. Sheikh’s visits to India ceased entirely after 2014. The SIT also looked into trips that were allegedly sponsored by Lead Pakistan, as well as interactions with employees working for organizations led by Mr. Sheikh. During these interactions, Mr. Sarma claimed, Mr. Sheikh showed a consistent pattern of demeaning Indian institutions and culture.

Scrutiny on Gaurav Gogoi’s 2013 Visit to Pakistan

The Chief Minister also brought up the subject of Gaurav Gogoi’s visit to Pakistan in December 2013. According to Mr. Sarma, Mr. Gogoi had publicly explained that the reason for his visit was that his wife was working there at the time.

However, the records reviewed by the SIT present a different timeline. They indicate that Elizabeth Gogoi had already returned to India in mid-2012, which was nearly 21 months prior to Mr. Gogoi’s visit.

Furthermore, the SIT found that Mr. Gogoi’s visa was originally issued only for Lahore. It was later extended to include Karachi and Islamabad through a special letter issued by the Interior Ministry of Pakistan.

“This suggests official-level facilitation,” Mr. Sarma alleged regarding the visa extension.

Upon his return from this trip, Mr. Gogoi, who was a newly elected Member of Parliament at the time, raised several questions in Parliament concerning military capabilities, strategic assets, and defense preparedness.

“While Members of Parliament have the right to ask questions, the timing and nature of these queries warrant closer examination,” Mr. Sarma said.

Questions on Citizenship & Affidavit Details

During the press conference, the Chief Minister also pointed to inconsistencies that the SIT flagged regarding citizenship disclosures and foreign bank accounts.

He alleged that Elizabeth Gogoi maintained a bank account in Pakistan that was not declared in official affidavits. He also raised questions regarding the citizenship status of members of the Gogoi family.

Drawing a parallel to past political figures, Mr. Sarma noted that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had taken steps to ensure his children remained Indian citizens. He suggested that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should “seek clarity” on this specific matter within his own party.

Investigation Handed Over to Central Government

The Assam Cabinet has concluded that the Assam Police has limited jurisdiction when it comes to probing international coordination, financial flows from overseas, and foreign nationals. Consequently, the decision was made to transfer the case to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“We have not interrogated Gaurav Gogoi because he is a sitting Member of Parliament. If the central government directs us to do so, we will fully cooperate. Arrest at this stage would be premature and politically sensitive,” Mr. Sarma explained.

The SIT has already suggested specific legal provisions under which further action could be initiated. Mr. Sarma emphasized that a deeper investigation by central agencies is required to bring the case to a “logical and lawful conclusion.”

Gaurav Responds to Allegations

In the wake of these accusations, Gaurav Gogoi issued a response on a microblogging site. He dismissed the entire press conference as “bogus” and accused the Chief Minister of engaging in “political theatrics.”

The Assam government explained that there was a delay in making these findings public earlier. They cited a sensitive period following the death of Assam icon Zubeen Garg on September 19 as the reason for holding back the information until now. However, they decided to proceed at this juncture, citing national interest.

With the matter now being transferred to the Centre, the Assam government reiterated its primary stance: the core issue remains the report authored by Elizabeth Gogoi that quoted Intelligence Bureau assessments and was transmitted to an organization based in Pakistan, an act they view as a severe concern for national security.