Assam Chief Minister Initiates Massive Rs 500 Crore Defamation Lawsuit Against Congress Leaders
In a significant legal and political development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken decisive action by filing a defamation case seeking damages of Rs 500 crore against three prominent Congress leaders. The lawsuit targets Congress figures Gaurav Gogoi, Jitendra Singh, and Bhupesh Baghel, whom Sarma accuses of making false and damaging allegations against him.
Legal Action Follows Congress Press Conference
The defamation proceedings stem directly from remarks made during a Congress press conference held earlier on Tuesday. Taking to social media platform X, Chief Minister Sarma publicly announced his legal move, stating clearly that he would not tolerate what he described as malicious political attacks.
"Today, I have filed a defamation case seeking ₹500 crore in damages against Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Gaurav Gogoi for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against me through a press conference," Sarma declared in his social media post.
Dual Legal Proceedings Initiated
The Assam chief minister has initiated both civil and criminal defamation proceedings, demonstrating the seriousness with which he is approaching the matter. The legal action is scheduled to proceed on February 9, 2026, against all named individuals including @JitendraSAlwar, @bhupeshbaghel, @GauravGogoiAsm, and @DsaikiaOfficial.
"I am initiating civil and criminal defamation proceedings on 9 February 2026 against these individuals for making false, malicious and defamatory statements against me in today's press conference," Sarma emphasized in his statement.
Political Stance Against "Hit-and-Run" Tactics
In his social media communication, the Assam chief minister made his political position abundantly clear, declaring that what he called "the era of hit-and-run politics" has come to an end. He challenged the Congress leaders to substantiate their allegations through proper legal channels if they possessed any credible evidence.
"If they have even an ounce of courage or evidence, let them prove every allegation before a court of law," Sarma asserted, adding that he would not be intimidated by what he characterized as propaganda, coordinated slander, or political theatrics orchestrated by what he termed "slaves of the Gandhi family."
Congress Response Awaited
As of Tuesday evening, there has been no immediate public response from the Congress leaders named in the defamation case. The legal development represents a significant escalation in political tensions between the ruling party in Assam and opposition Congress figures, potentially setting the stage for a prolonged legal battle with substantial financial implications.
The Rs 500 crore damages claim marks one of the largest defamation suits filed by a political figure in recent Indian political history, highlighting the increasingly confrontational nature of political discourse and the growing willingness of public figures to pursue legal remedies against perceived character attacks.
