Assam: Court Summons Manish Sisodia In Defamation Case Filed By Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Assam's Kamrup district has summoned Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on September 29 in connection with the defamation case filed against him by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In July, Assam CM filed the case against Sisodia after he alleged that the Assam government had given contracts to his wife's firms and son's business partner to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits above market rates during the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Earlier this month, Sarma appeared before the Kamrup District and Sessions Judge Court in the same case. The Assam CM, as the complainant in the case, had appeared before the court for an initial deposition.

Responding to the allegations of irregularities in the supply of PPE kits, Sarma had asserted that the PPE kits were '' gifted to the government'' and his wife's company ''raised no bill'' for it.

Notably, Sarma's wife has separately sued Sisodia for Rs 100 crore.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as accused No 1 in its FIR lodged in connection with the irregularities in the Delhi government's excise policy.

The CBI on Friday raided 21 places in seven states across the country in connection with the case, including the Delhi residence of Sisodia.

Earlier the investigative agency had grilled Sisodia after conducting raids at his premises and his aides.

The CBI has made Sisodia accused number one in its FIR. The CBI's FIR has been lodged under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 477-A (Falsification of accounts) of the IPC.

The allegations against Sisodia are that liquor businessmen were allegedly given an exemption of Rs 30 crore. The license holders were allegedly given extensions according to their own will. The policy rules were made by violating excise rules.

Also read: Assam: 35 Injured As Bus Falls Into Pond In Golaghat

Also watch: