Senior Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupesh Baghel, and Jitendra Singh are required to appear in court on March 9 regarding a Rs 500 crore defamation suit initiated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia announced that the Chief Minister is challenging the leaders to provide evidence for their accusations of his illegal ownership of 12,000 bighas of land, threatening damages if they fail. Sarma accused the Congress leaders of making “false, malicious and defamatory” claims during a media conference reported on February 5. The court, led by Justice Nayan Jyoti Sarma, has issued an ad interim stay order in favor of the Chief Minister, preventing the Congress leaders from making further public statements about Sarma and his property until further notice. Additionally, notices have been sent to the newspaper’s proprietor, the publisher, and the staff reporter involved, requiring their appearance in court on the same date to present evidence related to the allegations published.
Assam CM Defamation Case Hearing on March 9; Congress Leaders Directed to Appear
