‘Era Of Hit-And-Run Politics Over’: Himanta Sarma To Sue Congress Leaders Over Land Grab Allegations

Last Updated:February 04, 2026, 18:46 IST

Assam Chief Minister says allegations are malicious and politically motivated, challenges Gogoi to prove charges in court.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the gathering during the inauguration, foundation stone laying and launch of various projects, in Dibrugarh. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that he will file civil and criminal defamation cases against senior Congress leaders, including state party chief Gaurav Gogoi, over allegations that his family illegally grabbed large tracts of land across Assam.

In a strongly worded post on X, Sarma said he would initiate legal proceedings on February 9 against Gogoi, Congress general secretary Jitendra Singh, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Assam Congress leader Debabrata Saikia.

“I am initiating civil and criminal defamation proceedings on 9 February 2026 against Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel, Gaurav Gogoi and Debabrata Saikia for making false, malicious and defamatory statements against me in today’s press conference," Sarma wrote.

“The era of hit-and-run politics is over. If they have even an ounce of courage or evidence, let them prove every allegation before a court of law. I will not be intimidated by propaganda, coordinated slander or political theatrics of so-called slaves of the Gandhi family," he added.

The Chief Minister’s response came hours after Gogoi accused Sarma and his family of occupying nearly 12,000 bighas of land in Assam, an allegation the Congress leader said was based on an internal party investigation. Gogoi claimed the figure was likely to rise as more details emerge.

Reacting to the charges, BJP spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sarmah rejected Gogoi’s claims as legally and factually impossible. He pointed out that Indian laws do not allow any individual to hold more than 50 bighas of land.

“Is it possible to keep such a huge land when no individual can hold more than 50 bighas as per the ceiling act? That means Gaurav Gogoi does not even know the law," Sarmah told PTI.

He challenged the Congress leader to approach the courts if he had any evidence. “From Bofors to Robert Vadra, people have gone to court whenever there were allegations. Our judicial system gives a platform to expose corruption. Gogoi is not doing it because these claims have no basis," the BJP leader said.

The latest exchange is part of an escalating political battle between Gogoi and Sarma. Responding to the Chief Minister’s recent assertions that he would reveal evidence of Gogoi’s alleged Pakistan links, the Congress MP said Sarma was reviving the issue only to divert attention from corruption charges.

“Why did he not make it public on September 10 last year as promised? He slept for five months and suddenly remembered my Pakistan links," Gogoi said, adding that the BJP was rattled because the Congress was preparing a dossier on alleged land grab by Sarma’s family.

Sarma and the BJP have repeatedly targeted Gogoi over claims relating to his wife’s alleged connection with Pakistan’s ISI. On January 27, the Chief Minister said the state cabinet would decide on February 7 about further action based on an Assam Police probe report, and that a detailed press conference would be held on February 8 to disclose the findings.

News guwahati ‘Era Of Hit-And-Run Politics Over’: Himanta Sarma To Sue Congress Leaders Over Land Grab Allegations

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