Assam: Margherita MLA claims innocence in coke plant grabbing case; says will file defamation case against Akhil Gogoi

Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sarma, who is in the centre stage of a controversy surrounding the coke plant grabbing case in his constituency, has claimed to be innocent. 

Speaking on the matter which was first broken as an exclusive story by India Today NE, Sarma called it a conspiracy to defame him. He said that the matter had been brought to him by one Naresh Kayal, who said that he was doing a business dispute with his partner Pradip Singh. Sarma said that he acted as a mediator between both parties and also claimed that both sides had even resolved their differences. The Margherita MLA said that the allegations against him are all baseless and that someone is trying to defame him.

Speaking on the matter, Bhaskar Sarma said, "I will have to talk in details about Pradip Singh's matter. The way Bhimsaria talked about it. About six to seven months ago, a man named Naresh Kayal came to my Guwahati hostel, with a friend of his. He said he wanted to meet me and talk to me. He came and sat down, had tea and said that he has been doing business with Pradip Singh in Margherita for a long time, and that they want to open a coke plant there. Then he said that Pradip Singh is not willing to do business with him and is refusing to meet him. I said I am going to Margherita in a couple of days, and then I would meet them about the matter. After that I went to Margherita and called Pradip Singh and his partners. I told them about Kayal meeting me and told them to talk with him and resolve the matter. I also told them to let me know what happens, since he came to me for help. After three days, they called me and told me that they have talked with Naresh Kayal and have settled the matter with him. They said they would return him the money invested in the venture and that they would return the money once the factory gets complete. They told me he had agreed to their condition. Now four to five days agao, this man has brought forth allegations against me. Now they are alleging that I have grabbed their industry and occupied it. I have seen the interview. They should prove the allegations against me. Bhimsaria should come and show the proof. There is law and he should take the steps. I am hurt that allegations have been made against a man without any proof. And I request to him that business cannot be done in this manner."

The matter came to light when a Kolkata-based businessman Mahesh Bhimsaria alleged that aides of MLA Bhaskar Sarma, at his behest, forcefully grabbed a coke plant set up by the businessman in Tinsukia district of the state. The incident came to light after the businessman wrote a letter to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 4 complaining about “gundaraj” by the MLA and his associates and seeking the chief minister’s intervention in the matter. 

According to the letter, in February 2022, two individuals, Pradip Singh and Chandan Kalita from Margherita, met with Kolkata-based businessman Ishan Jain to propose the establishment of a coke plant in Margherita. They claimed that they were associates of Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sarma and were in possession of a license to set up a coke plant. They persuaded Jain to set up the said plant with assurance of all assistance. In return, they demanded a levy of Rs 20,000 per truck of coal transported, as decided by MLA Sarma.

Accordingly, a company named Brightshine Coke and Coal Private Limited was incorporated on August 29, 2022, with Jain and Singh as directors. While the letter claims that Jain made a 100 per cent investment for the said company, records show that Jain owned 2,50,000 shares and Singh had 1,000 shares of the company. 

The setting up of the plant was completed in December 2022. Immediately after this, Singh and Kalita seized control of the plant. Aided by “local hooligans”, the duo prevented Jain from entering the plant, reads the letter. On January 24 this year, Jain was detained at Margherita Police station and was set free only the next day. The police, according to the letter, asked him to “run away” from Margherita.

Following the alleged harassment by Singh and Kalita, and reported inaction and threat by police, Jain left the company and, on June 15, 2023, Mahesh Bhimsaria, a relative of Jain, joined the company as a director. Following this, Bhimsaria wrote the letter to the Assam Chief Minister. 

This matter soon heated up when Raijor Dal leader and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi raised the matter during a press conference. Gogoi also demanded that Chief Minister Sarma intervene in the issue. Gogoi had also said that on one hand, Chief Minister Sarma is inviting investors into the state through initiatives like Advantage Assam, and on the other hand, his party MLA is illegally grabbing a coke plant set up by a businessman from Kolkata. 

Reacting to Gogoi's allegations against him, MLA Bhaskar Sarma said that he is going to file a defamation case against him, and asserted that the Sivasagar MLA should produce proof before making allegations against him. 

"This is a habit with Akhil Gogoi. I condemn him. He should have got proof against me before taking those fake papers and holding a press conference against me. I am going to file a defamation case against Akhil Gogoi. He is also an MLA, I too am an MLA. He should have atleast asked about it after hearing about this conspiracy. I would have clarified to him. But he went ahead and gave a press meet about a man and said that he has grabbed an industry like a goon and a mafia. I want to ask him will he be able to do any such thing? Akhil Gogoi has always been doing this and has even caused death of people in his party. How can we trust a man who gives a press meet on the basis of a paper given to him by somebody. I will take legal action against the allegations that Akhil Gogoi has put against me," said Sarma.