Guwahati Court Restrains Congress Leaders From Making Defamatory Statements Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

In a significant interlocutory order in a high-profile defamation dispute, the Civil Court in Guwahati, presided over by Civil Judge (Senior Division) No. 1, Nayanjyoti Sarma, on 12 February 2026 restrained senior Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Bhupesh Baghel and Jitendra Singh from making any “defamatory statements” against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pending further hearings in the matter.The order was passed in response to a civil defamation suit for ₹500 crore filed by Chief Minister Sarma, alleging that the defendants made false, malicious and defamatory allegations concerning his conduct and assets during a February press conference and related political activitiesAfter hearing the petitioner's counsel, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Nayanjyoti Sarma granted an ad-interim injunction restraining the three Congress leaders — and additionally a prominent Assamese daily named in the suit — from “making, publishing, circulating or disseminating any further defamatory statements or materials concerning the petitioner” until their personal appearance before the court.The court also fixed 9 March 2026 as the date for the defendants' appearance.In recording reasons for the interim restraint, the court observed that failure to grant the injunction would “defeat the justice” and there was “every possibility of multiplicity of proceedings” if further alleged defamatory material were circulated.BackgroundChief Minister Sarma's civil defamation plaint reportedly seeks ₹500 crore in damages, asserting that statements attributed to the Congress leaders are not only factually incorrect but have caused serious harm to his reputation.According to pleadings before the court, the allegations involved claims about alleged illegal land ownership and other improprieties — assertions challenged by Sarma's counsel as baseless, seeking documentary proof of the same.Click here to read order

Guwahati Court Restrains Congress Leaders From Making Defamatory Statements Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Srinjoy Das

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