March 13, 2025: The Assam Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has intensified its inquiry into alleged links between Elizabeth Gogoi, the wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. After a 13-day investigation in Delhi and Punjab, the SIT, led by Rosie Kalita, has returned to Guwahati to further examine the case. Authorities are looking into reports that Sheikh, a former advisor to Pakistan’s Planning Commission, visited India several times. His trips were reportedly facilitated by Dr. Nupur Baruah, the head of an NGO, and the nature of his activities during these visits is under scrutiny.
As part of its investigation, the SIT has questioned Dr. Nupur Baruah and her husband, a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Two British Embassy officials have also been interrogated regarding their possible involvement in the matter. Investigators have uncovered records suggesting that Elizabeth Gogoi traveled to Pakistan multiple times until 2024. Efforts are underway to determine whether she had any direct connection to Sheikh’s activities in India.
The case has triggered a political storm, with the BJP accusing Elizabeth Gogoi of maintaining links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has raised concerns over national security, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that Sheikh’s visits to India were discreetly arranged, with the Pakistani national staying in inconspicuous locations to evade public attention.
Gaurav Gogoi has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and baseless, stating that the accusations are merely an attempt to tarnish his family’s reputation ahead of the elections. Congress leaders have also criticized the BJP for what they call a diversionary tactic aimed at shifting focus from more pressing governance issues.
Elizabeth Gogoi, originally Elizabeth Colebourn from the United Kingdom, is a London School of Economics graduate with expertise in international political economy. She has been involved in climate policy work and has collaborated with organizations that have operations in Pakistan. Married to Gaurav Gogoi since 2013, she has largely remained out of political controversies until now.
The SIT is continuing its probe into her possible links with Sheikh, analyzing communication records, travel documents, and financial transactions related to the case. Additionally, the investigation is focusing on Dr. Nupur Baruah’s NGO and its funding sources. As the inquiry progresses, the political landscape in Assam remains on edge, with both the BJP and Congress closely monitoring developments in what has become a heated controversy.