Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has initiated a criminal defamation case seeking ₹500 crore in damages against senior Congress leaders Bhupesh Baghel, Jitendra Singh, and Gaurav Gogoi. The legal action follows allegations made against him during a recent press conference, which the Chief Minister has described as “false, malicious, and deliberately defamatory.”
Taking to social media platform X, Sarma stated that the three Congress leaders knowingly made baseless claims aimed at tarnishing his personal and political reputation. He asserted that such accusations could not be allowed to go unchecked and would be challenged through legal means.
The controversy stems from statements made on February 4 by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaurav Gogoi, who alleged that members of the Chief Minister’s family had illegally occupied nearly 12,000 bighas of land across the state—an area exceeding 3,960 acres. The claims quickly triggered a political storm in Assam.
The issue gained further traction as Sarma has recently been under criticism from former Supreme Court judges and various civil society groups over his remarks related to religious discrimination. With land-related allegations now entering the debate, political tensions have intensified.
Responding to the accusations, Chief Minister Sarma categorically denied all claims and reaffirmed his decision to pursue a defamation case against Gogoi and other Congress leaders involved. He maintained that the allegations were politically motivated and intended to mislead the public.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi hit back, calling the Chief Minister’s legal move a sign of insecurity. In a post on X, Gogoi said that if Sarma was confident of his position, he should face the matter openly in court and answer questions before the people.
The legal and political battle is expected to escalate further as both sides stand firm on their positions.
