Himanta files defamation case against Saradha boss

GUWAHATI: Assam health and education minister HimantaBiswaSarma on Saturday filed a criminal defamation case against Saradha chairman-cum-director Sudipto Sen for naming him as a beneficiary of his company's funds in the letter purportedly written by him to the CBI.
Sarma issued a legal notice to Sen on April 26 after Sen's letter to CBI was published by the media across the country."Since Sen did not respond to Sarma's legal notice, we filed the criminal defamation case in the court of judicial magistrate (first class) on Saturday," said Sarma's counsel Angshuman Bora.
He added, "Sudipto Sen has made a false allegation through his purported letter issued to CBI published on April 25 last, where he stated that Sarma has taken Rs 3 crore from him through his executives by signing vouchers."
Sarma's statement was recorded in the court and the next date of hearing for inquiry has been fixed on June 15, he said. "Sudipto Sen has accused several people in his letter, but Sarma is the first among them to move the court against Sen," added Bora. Sen is currently in the custody of West Bengal Police. Police recently quizzed Matang Sinh, a former Congress minister from the state, who has also been named by Sen in his letter.