Riniki Bhuyan Sarma

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma
Born (1973-07-31) 31 July 1973
Guwahati, Assam, India
Alma materCotton College (BA)
Government Law College (LLB)
OccupationBusinesswoman
Organization(s)News Live
Rang
Ramdhenu
Indradhanu
North East Live
Time8
Spouse
​
(m. 2001)​
Children2

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma (born 31 July 1973) is a businesswoman.[1] She is the wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma, the current chief minister of Assam and managing director of Pride East Entertainment, the largest media house of Assam.

Early life

She was born on 31 July 1973, in Guwahati. She comes from a notable family, with her father, Jadav Chandra Bhuyan, being a well-known industrialist.[1] Riniki's early education took place in Guwahati, where she attended St. Mary's High School[1] before moving on to Cotton College, where she graduated with a degree in Political Science.[2] Following her undergraduate studies, she pursued a law degree at Government Law College in Guwahati.[1][3]

Career

She is the Chairperson and Managing Director of Pride East Entertainments,[4] which is a parent company of several Assamese channels. It includes, two news channels (News Live & Northeast East Live),[5] three entertainment channels (Ramdhenu, Rang & Indradhanu) and one Assamese News paper (Niyamiya Barta).[1][6][7]

Recently, Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd., headed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, successfully acquired the digital news platform Time8.[8]

She is also the proprietor of JCB Industries, makers of Aadya brand of sanitary products.[9][10]

Personal life

She is married to Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam's current Chief Minister.[11] They met as students while studying in Cotton College, and Himanta shared his ambition of becoming Chief Minister with her.[12] They have two children: a son, Nandil Biswa Sarma, and a daughter, Sukanya Sarma.[13]

Allegation of corruption

In September 2023, Congress alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, through her company M/s Pride East Entertainments Private Limited, had allegedly obtained a grant of ₹10 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).[14][15]

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma denied the allegations, claiming that her company had neither applied for nor received any subsidies, even though it was eligible. She also filed a ₹10 crore defamation lawsuit against Gaurav Gogoi, accusing him of running a "slanderous campaign" against her business.[16][17] Gogoi cited Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3434 as evidence, which lists M/s Pride East Entertainments Private Limited as one of the 79 projects approved under the Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters (APC) sub-scheme of PMKSY, subsequent to issuing an "Expression of Interest (EoI) on 21.06.2022 for inviting proposals from prospective entrepreneurs."[18] The project cost of M/s Pride East Entertainments Private Limited is listed as Rs. 25.877 crores and the grant approved on 10.11.2022 is Rs. 10 crores.

Allegations of Foreign Passport and foreign assets

On 5 April 2026, a few days before the 2026 Assembly Elections, Congress Spokesman Pawan Khera made the following allegations against Riniki Bhuyan and her husband, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma:

  1. That she held multiple foreign passports, purportedly belonging to United Arab Emirates, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt; an Indian citizen cannot hold foreign passports as Indian law does not permit dual citizenship.
  2. That she held 2 separate properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  3. That she was in possession of around Rs. 52,000 crores' worth of assets in the name of a firm named “Riniki Bhuyan Sarma Asset Collective LLC” registered in Wyoming, a state of the United States of America.

Both Riniki Bhuyan and her husband immediately reacted by rejecting these allegations through their respective social media posts, calling them “malicious, fabricated and politically motivated”, while talking of immediately initiating criminal and civil defamation proceedings. While Sarma wrote on X, formerly Twitter- "He will be held fully accountable for his reckless and defamatory statements", Riniki said- "I will now be letting the law take over. Criminal charges are being initiated."[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Corruption allegations against wife

On 5 April 2026, in the midst of 2026 Assembly Elections, Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera made allegations against Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan, including that his wife held multiple passports, foreign properties, and a foreign company listed in the United States. Kheda alleged his wife held three passports additional to an Indian passport, including the United Arab Emirates, Antigua and Barbuda, and Egypt. She was also accused of owning two properties in Dubai and having Rs. 52,000 crores worth of assets in a firm named, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma Asset Collective LLC, registered in the state of Wyoming.

Both Biswa Sarma and Riniki Bhuyan immediately reacted by rejecting these allegations as “malicious, fabricated and politically motivated”.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

While Himanta presented a detailed point by point rebuttal of the charges, calling the documents AI generated and alleging the entire matter to have Pakistan connection, his wife getting an FIR registered against Pawan Khera at Crime Branch of Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati.[33][34][35][36][37]

Khera initially approached the Telangana High Court, which on April 10, 2026 granted him one week's transit anticipatory bail to enable him to seek regular relief before the competent court in Assam. On April 15, the Supreme Court of India stayed the operation of the transit anticipatory bail. Following this, Khera moved the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court rejected the plea, holding that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the source of the documents relied upon by Khera. Later The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to Khera.[38][39][40][41][42]

While the matter is still pending, Himanta seems to have changed his stand and is calling the entire episode political in nature, even thanking Khera for allegedly contributing in Congress defeat.[43][44][45][46][47]

Meanwhile in May 2026, Pawan Khera was questioned by Assam Crime Branch for long hours continuously for two days, while he has been called for questioning the third time, and other Congress leaders like Randeep Surjewala have also been called for questioning.[48][49] [50] [51]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "In Conversation with Riniki Bhuyan Sharma: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Media Tycoon of Northeast". guwahatiplus.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Himanta was sure of becoming CM even in his college days, says wife Rinki Bhuyan". Hindustan Times. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Live, Assam News (24 March 2021). "Riniki Bhuyan Sharma Biography - Success, Achievements, Education, Background, Controversies". Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "PRIDE EAST ENTERTAINMENTS PRIVATE LIMITED - Company, directors and contact details | Zauba Corp". www.zaubacorp.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Media Ownership Monitor: Who owns the media in India? | Reporters without borders". RSF. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Pride East". prideeast.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Sarma Family". india.mom-rsf.org. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Live, Northeast (1 June 2023). "Assam's media behemoth Prideeast Entertainments acquires Time8". Northeast Live. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  9. ↑ https://myaadya.com/
  10. ↑ https://www.indiamart.com/jcb-industries/profile.html
  11. ↑ Guwahati, PTI. "Himanta was sure of becoming CM even in his college days, says wife Rinki Bhuyan". Hindustan Times.
  12. ↑ "30 years ago, Himanta Biswa Sarma told his wife he will become CM one day". India Today. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma Is A Proud Dad As Son Starts Law School". NDTV.com. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Lahiri, Ishadrita (13 September 2023). "Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says Himanta 'helped wife's firm get Rs 10-cr govt subsidy', Assam CM denies". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Details of agro processing cluster projects under APC Scheme" (PDF). Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Assam CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma files Rs 10 crore defamation case against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi". The Economic Times. 23 September 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  17. ↑ "Assam CM's wife files 10 crore defamation case against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi". The Times of India. 24 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  18. ↑ https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1711/AU3434.pdf?source=pqals
  19. ↑ "Congress alleges Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife holds 3 passports, including 2 from Muslim countries; Assam CM reacts". The Statesman. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Congress alleges foreign passports for CM's wife; Sarma warns of legal action". Assam Tribune. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "Assam Elections 2026: Congress takes on CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma over triple citizenship, foreign assets". Noth East Now. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "52,000 crore allegation rocks Assam polls, Himanta Biswa Sarma warns of legal action". Hub News. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Politically motivated lies". Times of India. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Himanta Sarma's Wife Holds Multi-Citizenship, Undisclosed Dubai Assets, Says Congress; Assam CM Rejects Allegations". ETV Bharat. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "'Malicious, fabricated lies': Himanta Biswa Sarma rejects Pawan Khera's 'passport' claims, to file defamation cases". India Today NE. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Congress alleges Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife holds 3 passports, including 2 from Muslim countries; Assam CM reacts". The Statesman. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "Congress alleges foreign passports for CM's wife; Sarma warns of legal action". Assam Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Assam Elections 2026: Congress takes on CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma over triple citizenship, foreign assets". Noth East Now. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "52,000 crore allegation rocks Assam polls, Himanta Biswa Sarma warns of legal action". Hub News. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  30. ↑ "Politically motivated lies". Times of India. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "Himanta Sarma's Wife Holds Multi-Citizenship, Undisclosed Dubai Assets, Says Congress; Assam CM Rejects Allegations". ETV Bharat. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "'Malicious, fabricated lies': Himanta Biswa Sarma rejects Pawan Khera's 'passport' claims, to file defamation cases". India Today NE. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  33. ↑ "Assam CM's Wife Riniki Sarma Files Complaint Against Pawan Khera Over 'False And AI-Generated' Allegations". ETV Bharat. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  34. ↑ "UAE Golden visa, Dubai properties and LLM rock Assam politics – Himanta Sarma invokes St Kitts case to counter Cong". Financial Express. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Himanta Biswa Sarma, his wife continue to counter Congress over its allegations; FIR lodged with Assam Police". ANI. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  36. ↑ "Himanta Sarma's wife files FIR against Congress over allegations". Asia Net. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  37. ↑ "Assam: CM Sarma cites 'Pakistan link' behind Congress' allegations against wife; FIR filed". India TV. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  38. ↑ "'Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Pawan Khera In Assam Police FIR". Live Law. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in Assam Police FIR". BarandBench. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Assam CM's wife defamation case: Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera". Legaleagle. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Supreme Court grants pre-arrest bail to Pawan Khera in Assam case". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in forgery & defamation case". All India Radio. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Pawan Khera Case: 'Court Has Not Closed It'". NDTV. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Himanta Biswa Sarma Opens Up On BJP's Assam Hat-Trick, Pawan Khera Row & More". TimesNow. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "Janata ne Peda bana diya". Jansatta (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  46. ↑ "SPawan Khera's remark targeting my family backfires, people respond with mandate: Assam CM". The Shillong Times. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "'Come To Assam, Will Feed You Peda': Himanta Biswa Sarma's Jab At Pawan Khera After Poll Win". News 18. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Assam Crime Branch Summons Randeep Surjewala In Pawan Khera Case Probe". NDTV. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  49. ↑ "Pawan Khera appears before Assam police Crime Branch". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "Pawan Khera questioned till night by Assam cops for remarks on CM Himanta's wife". Indian Express. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "Assam Crime Branch summons Randeep Surjewala in CM Himanta's wife passport row". New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
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