AASU Chief Files Rs.100 Crore Defamation Suit Against Former NRC Coordinator
In a significant legal move, Dr. Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, the chief advisor of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking Rs. 100 crore in damages against Hitesh Dev Sarma, the former state coordinator of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The suit, lodged at a district court in Kamrup, comes in the wake of allegations made by Sarma on social media, accusing Bhattacharya of financial misconduct during the NRC update process in 2019. Sarma alleged that Bhattacharya had received Rs. 16 lakh a month from another former NRC coordinator, Prateek Hajela, implicating him in a purported scam.
Bhattacharya has vehemently denied these accusations, stating that Sarma’s claims are unfounded and aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He mentioned that he had waited for an apology from Sarma before proceeding with legal action, but decided to file the suit following Sarma’s failure to respond. Bhattacharya’s legal move underscores his intent to clear his name and challenge what he describes as “false and baseless claims” made for “cheap publicity.”
The controversy has sparked interest amid ongoing debates over the NRC process in Assam, with Sarma suggesting that an investigation into the alleged scam might reveal the truth. Meanwhile, Sarma has yet to officially respond to the defamation suit, indicating that he has only been informed of the lawsuit through media reports. The case has highlighted the tense atmosphere surrounding the NRC update, with both parties standing firm on their respective positions.
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