Himanta Sarma Files ₹500 Cr Defamation Suit Against Gaurav Gogoi, Congress Leaders

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has initiated a significant legal battle, filing a ₹500 crore civil and criminal defamation lawsuit against prominent Congress leaders, including Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi, Jitendra Singh, and Bhupesh Baghel. The lawsuit was filed on February 10, 2026, in response to what Sarma described as "false, malicious, and defamatory allegations" made against him during a press conference held by the Congress on February 4, 2026. The core of the Congress's accusations, which triggered the defamation suit, revolved around alleged land grabbing by Chief Minister Sarma's family. Gaurav Gogoi and his party members claimed that their "investigation" revealed nearly 12,000 bighas of land across Assam had been illegally occupied by the Chief Minister and his family. These allegations were publicly disseminated, prompting Sarma to announce his intent to pursue legal action, emphasizing that the era of "hit-and-run politics" was over and challenging his accusers to substantiate their claims in court. The filing of this defamation suit is a major escalation in the ongoing political feud between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress in Assam. The animosity had already intensified due to earlier allegations made by Chief Minister Sarma against Gaurav Gogoi. Sarma had previously accused Gogoi of having purported links to Pakistan, alleging a "confidential" visit to the country in 2013 where he supposedly underwent "some kind of training." Furthermore, Sarma brought into question the activities of Gogoi's British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, alleging a "deeper connection" with a Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, and suggesting violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the couple. He made public certain findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in this regard, even recommending a national probe by the Ministry of Home Affairs due to national security concerns. Gaurav Gogoi vehemently refuted these allegations, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated. He clarified that his 2013 trip to Pakistan was legitimate, undertaken while his wife was working there under an international climate program, and asserted that he possessed all necessary travel documents. Gogoi countered Sarma by accusing the Chief Minister of stooping to a new low by revealing private information about his minor children, including their passport details, and questioning their nationality and faith. He threatened to explore legal options under the Juvenile Justice Act for the disclosure of his children's personal information. Adding another layer to the controversy, Gogoi also criticized Sarma for allegedly inciting communal hatred. He referred to a now-deleted video, purportedly shared by the State BJP on social media, which depicted Sarma firing a weapon at animated images of visibly Muslim men. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and other Communist parties have also approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent action, including the registration of an FIR, against Chief Minister Sarma for these alleged communal speeches and the controversial video. The Congress party, on its part, had launched a website, 'www.whoishbs.com', to detail allegations of corruption and land grabbing against Sarma's family, further fueling the political confrontation. The defamation suit by Himanta Biswa Sarma seeks substantial damages, aiming to hold the Congress leaders accountable for what he perceives as a coordinated campaign of slander and character assassination. This legal action underscores the increasingly aggressive stance taken by political leaders in India to counter allegations through the judicial system. The case is expected to attract considerable attention and further intensify the already charged political atmosphere in Assam, particularly ahead of upcoming elections.

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