Guwahati, Feb 10, 2026: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has escalated the political standoff with the Congress by filing a ₹500 crore defamation suit against senior party leaders, terming their recent allegations against him and his family as “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
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| Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma |
The legal action - both civil and criminal - was initiated on February 9 and 10, following a Congress press conference that accused the Chief Minister’s family of illegally acquiring nearly 12,000 bighas (around 4,000 acres) of land across Assam. Those named in the suit include AICC General Secretary Jitendra Singh, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi, and Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia.
Announcing the move on social media, CM Sarma said the Congress had crossed all limits by spreading “coordinated slander” through press briefings, pamphlets, and a campaign titled “Who Is HBS”, which sought to track alleged assets linked to him. “The era of hit-and-run politics is over,” Sarma declared, challenging the opposition to prove every allegation in a court of law.
The Chief Minister also accused the Congress leadership of indulging in political theatrics and acting at the behest of the Gandhi family, asserting that he would not be intimidated by what he described as propaganda-driven politics.
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The legal confrontation comes amid an already heated exchange between the ruling BJP and the Congress, days after Gogoi defended his family against Sarma’s allegations of “Pakistan links,” further deepening the political and legal deadlock in the state.
While the BJP maintains that the land-grab allegations are baseless and politically motivated, Congress leaders insist they possess “startling revelations” and have demanded transparency from the Chief Minister.
With court proceedings now underway, the Congress leaders will be required to substantiate their claims before the judiciary. The high-profile legal battle is expected to significantly shape Assam’s political narrative in the run-up to the next electoral season.
