Guwahati – A civil court in Guwahati has issued an interim order restraining Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupesh Baghel, and Jitendra Singh from making further public statements against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The directive comes in connection with a ₹500-crore defamation suit filed by Sarma over allegations that he illegally owns 12,000 bighas of land.
Civil Judge (Senior Division) No. 1, Nayanjyoti Sarma, granted the ad-interim injunction after hearing arguments from the Chief Minister’s counsel. The order prohibits the Congress leaders, along with several Assamese individuals named in the petition, from publishing, circulating, or disseminating any material deemed defamatory until they appear before the court.
The defamation case was initiated after a news report on February 5 carried claims of Sarma’s alleged land holdings. The Chief Minister dismissed the allegations as baseless and malicious, challenging the Congress leaders to provide evidence and seeking damages of ₹500 crore if they fail to substantiate their charges.
In his ruling, Judge Sarma observed that denying interim relief could “defeat the justice” and potentially lead to multiple proceedings, indicating the court’s view that immediate protection was necessary.
The court has further restricted the publication of additional reports alleging illegal land ownership by the Chief Minister until the matter is adjudicated. The case will be taken up for detailed hearing on March 9, marking the next stage in the escalating legal battle between Sarma and senior Congress leaders.
