Manish Sisodia has been summoned from Assam in a defamation case by Himanta Sarma | Media Pyro

Manish Sisodia is facing a criminal defamation case filed by Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati:

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was summoned by a local court in Assam on November 19 to appear in a defamation case filed by his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Mr Sisodia’s petition in the Gauhati High Court sought to quash the summons and the case against him was quashed by the High Court.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in June alleged that the Assam Security Minister had awarded a contract for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to a company associated with his wife and paid extra for the equipment.

“Himanta Biswa Sarma gave the contract to his wife’s company. He paid Rs 990 for PPE kits while others were bought for Rs 600 each from another company on the same day. This is a big crime,” Mr Sisodia alleged.

After vehemently denying the allegation, Mr Sarma filed a defamation case against Mr Sisodia in the Kamrup District High Court.

“According to Manish Sisodia, Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in corrupt practices in the supply of PPE kits in March 2020 amid the COVID-19. Supply of around 1,500 PPE kits,” Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia told reporters today. , adding that the Chief Minister, knowing that the allegations were false, filed the criminal defamation case.

Mr Sisodia’s allegations are based on an investigative report published by the news website The Wire, which Mr Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma have strongly denied as “baseless”.

The Minister’s wife tweeted a “letter of gratitude” from the National Health Mission for providing PPE kits under corporate social responsibility.

“I have not taken a single penny from this supply. I have always been transparent about my belief in giving back to society, regardless of my husband’s political stance. My organization has also supported NHM in the fight against COVID-19 by donating Aarogya Nidhi,” Riniki Bhuyan Sharma said.