Assam Minister files defamation case against Saradha

GUWAHATI: Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah filed a criminal defamation case against ponzy scheme Saradha Group and its chairman Sudipta Sen today for allegations against him in a purported letter to CBI.

Sarmah is the first person in the country to initiate legal action against Sen although names of several politicians and businessmen figured in the purported letter to CBI after the chitfund company went bust.

The minister filed the case in the court of Kamrup First Class Magistrate Ipsita Borthakur under various sections of the IPC alleging that Sen had made false and defamatory allegations which has harmed his political and personal reputation.

The magistrate recorded the statement of the minister, who highlighted the allegations made by Sen in the purported letter to CBI that Sarmah had received some money from Saradha Group by signing vouchers.

''This is totally false, baseless and such allegations has damaged my reputation in public life and, therefore, I am filing the criminal defamation suit,'' he said.

Sarmah said he had sent a legal notice to Sen on the matter on April 26 but as there was no response the case was being filed.

The court accepted his statement and ordered a magisterial inquiry under the provisions of Section 202 Cr PC and fixed June 16 as the next date of hearing.