Assam Congress Alleges Land Grab by CM Sarma's Family; CM Announces Defamation Cases

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family have illegally acquired nearly 12,000 bighas (over 3,960 acres) of land across Assam, based on an internal party investigation. The Congress launched a website, 'Who Is HBS', to collect public information on Sarma's assets. The BJP has not responded to the allegations. Sarma rejected the claims as false and malicious, announcing civil and criminal defamation cases against Gogoi and other Congress leaders, scheduled for February 9, 2026. Gogoi challenged Sarma to face public scrutiny instead of legal action, while the Congress website was reportedly hacked shortly after launch amid heightened political tensions ahead of Assam's assembly elections.