Agartala: Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarman has filed a criminal defamation case against Ranjit Debbarma, a legislator of Tipra Motha, over alleged defamatory remarks made during two public meetings, his lawyer said on Monday.
The case has been lodged before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, West Tripura, in connection with statements made by the MLA at rallies held on March 30 and April 9. The minister has alleged that the remarks harmed his reputation and public image.
Advocate Sankar Lodh, representing Debbarman, said portions of the speeches contained “highly defamatory” statements targeting the minister’s personal and professional integrity.
According to the counsel, the MLA used terms such as “Takla Mantri” and made allegations regarding the minister’s wealth and recent property purchases. He also purportedly claimed that the minister was involved in discussions over a property transaction in Delhi.
Further, the MLA allegedly accused the minister of misusing a forest bungalow for personal activities, including consumption of alcohol and hosting companions during his stay. The lawyer said these public statements prompted the minister to seek legal recourse, asserting that the allegations were baseless.
The court has listed the matter for hearing on April 30.
The development comes amid an apparent rift within Tipra Motha, with Debbarma publicly criticising Debbarman in recent weeks. Party sources indicated that the minister had played a key role in internal divisions ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, during which several party leaders defected to the BJP.
Sources also claimed that the minister maintained a distance from party campaigning in the run-up to the polls, further deepening tensions within the party.
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