No HC relief for Manish Sisodia in Himanta Biswa Sarma case

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati HC on Monday dismissed Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s petition seeking quashing of proceedings against him in a criminal defamation case filed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in a chief judicial magistrate’s court in the state.
Justice Kalyan Rai Surana dismissed his prayer on the grounds that Sisodia “hasn’t been able to make out any case for quashing the lower court case”. Sisodia now has to appear before the CJM’s court on November 19.
Sarma had filed a defamation case in the Kamrup district CJM’s court alleging that Sisodia, in a press conference in Delhi on June 4, had accused him of indulging in corruption while supplying PPE kits in the state in 2020. Sarma said in the case that Sisodia accused him of giving a government contract to his wife’s firm for purchasing PPE kits at a higher rate without following a proper tender process. Sarma was Assam health minister at that time.