Riniki is listed as the main promoter for an agro-processing cluster project in Darigazi village, Nagaon district, Assam, which is one of seven similar projects in the state. Records show that the Ministry sanctioned a maximum grant of Rs 10 crore for this Rs 25 crore project on November 10, 2022. The Agro-Processing Cluster Scheme aims to develop infrastructure and common facilities for food processing units, connecting producers/farmers with processors and markets. Project Executing Agencies (PEA) are eligible for financial assistance, with grants covering up to 35% of the project cost in most areas and 50% in North-Eastern States, capped at Rs 10 crore per project, excluding land purchase.
Gogoi's allegations stem from a report on the Assamese news website Cross Currents, claiming that Riniki's company Pride East, in which he has the largest stake, had purchased around 10 acres of agricultural land in Kaliabor Mauza, Gogoi's constituency, in February 2022, nine months after Sarma became Chief Minister of Assam.
The report alleges that the agricultural plot was converted into industrial land within two months (April 2022), and Pride East began selling food under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana. They had applied for a subsidy to establish a processing unit, which the Union Food Processing Ministry approved with a Rs 10 crore subsidy in November of the previous year.
Assam Congress criticized CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, claiming he prioritizes his family's interests over public service, accusing him of various irregularities and scams. They accused Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the CM's wife, of changing agricultural land into industrial land and violating the Ceiling Act and the Companies Act, describing it as unfortunate and stating that Sarma disregarded the law in his wife's case. They also noted that despite the company owned by the CM's wife purchasing land on the same day, in the same field, and on the same plot, no department officials protested.
The Ceiling Act prohibits any individual or company from owning more than 49.5 bighas of agricultural land, making it unlikely for the land category to change within just 10 months. Congress leaders called for a thorough investigation into this land category change, urging transparency regarding the district commissioner and circle officer responsible for the process and whether regulations were followed.
They also found it "mysterious" that an entertainment company was allowed to establish a food processing plant. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) leaders, Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Jagdish Bhuyan, demanded a comprehensive judicial inquiry, expressing concerns about potential misuse of government influence in the reported change.
AJP emphasized their commitment to honesty, integrity, and zero tolerance for corruption, underscoring the need for an impartial judicial investigation by the Gauhati High Court, particularly regarding land irregularities. They highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, including the claim that the Chief Minister's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, may have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, raising questions about government transparency and accountability.
