Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma sues Sisodia for felony defamation

Express News Service

GUWAHATI:  Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has filed a felony defamation swimsuit in opposition to Manish Sisodia in reference to the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister’s accusations in opposition to him over procurement of PPE kits.

Sarma filed the swimsuit earlier than Kamrup chief judicial Justice of the Peace underneath related sections of the IPC on Thursday. Recently, Sarma’s spouse Riniki Bhuyan Sarma had filed a Rs 100 crore defamation swimsuit within the courtroom of civil choose, Kamrup (Metro), in opposition to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief on the identical problem. Last month, a confrontation had erupted between Sisodia and Sarma. Referring to a media report, the AAP chief had accused the Assam CM of indulging in corruption by awarding contracts of PPE kits and different Covid-related gadgets to his spouse and son’s enterprise companions.

Sisodia had requested why the agency linked to Sarma’s spouse was awarded the contract at Rs 990 per PPE equipment when one other agency was given solely Rs 600 for a similar on the identical day in 2020. Sarma was then Assam’s well being minister.

Both he and his spouse had dismissed the fees, and hit again at Sisodia, threatening to file a felony defamation swimsuit. “Stop sermonising and I will see you in Guwahati as you will face criminal defamation,” Sarma had said. The couple stated the PPE kits had been gifted to the National Health Mission, Assamm and no invoice was raised.

The AAP had lodged a criticism with the police in Guwahati demanding {that a} felony case be registered in opposition to Sarma for his alleged involvement within the “PPE kits scam”. The occasion additionally petitioned Governor Jagdish Mukhi, demanding a probe into the case.