Assam CM’s wife files Rs 100 crore defamation case against Manish Sisodia
Highlight
- Manish Sisodia had alleged that the Assam government had awarded the contract to the firms of the wife of the Chief Minister of Assam.
- These were given to supply PPE kits above market rates when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak
- Rinki Bhuyan Sarma’s lawyer said they are expecting the matter to be listed on Wednesday
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife on Tuesday filed a civil defamation case of Rs 100 crore against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. As per the details, Rinki Bhuyan Sarma filed the case in Civil Judge Court, Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati.
Earlier on June 4, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia had alleged that the Assam government had awarded contracts to the firms of the Chief Minister’s wife and business partners of the son. He alleged that when the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading in the country in 2020, these were given to supply PPE kits above market rates.
Rinki Bhuyan Sarma’s lawyer Padmadhar Nayak said they are hoping that the matter will be listed on Wednesday and they will proceed.
Manish Sisodia vs Assam CM: What’s the matter?
Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that he would initiate legal action against Sisodia following the AAP leader’s allegations.
In his clarification, the Assam CM had said, “At a time when the entire country was facing the worst pandemic in more than 100 years, Assam hardly had any PPE kits. My wife dared to come forward. And donated around 1,500 PPE kits free of cost. The government had to pay the price for saving lives. It didn’t take a single penny.”
Reacting to allegations of irregularities in the supply of PPE kits, Sarma said that the PPE kits were “gifted to the government” and his wife’s company “did not raise any bills” for the same.
Sisodia had tweeted tagging a bill addressed to JCB Industries by NHM-Assam Mission Director S Lakshmanan.
Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Rinku Bhuyan Sarma had earlier issued a clarification on Sisodia’s allegations.
She wrote, “In the first week of the pandemic, Assam didn’t have a single PPE kit available. Taking cognizance of the same, I reached out to a business acquaintance and distributed around 1500 PPE kits to NHM with great effort. Later on , I wrote to NHM to consider it as part of my CSR.”
“I didn’t take a single penny from the supplies. I have always been transparent about my belief in giving back to the society, regardless of my husband’s political status,” she said.
(with inputs from ANI)
Read also | Kejriwal defends ministers Sisodia, Jain in corruption cases, urges PM to ‘arrest all’