Delhi: The political storm triggered by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s controversial “point blank shot” video has now landed in the Supreme Court, turning a campaign flashpoint into a legal battle ahead of the Assembly elections.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has moved the apex court seeking action against the Chief Minister, alleging that the video amounted to hate speech and posed a threat to communal harmony. Although the clip has since been taken down, it continues to fuel political and legal scrutiny.
During the mentioning of the petition, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant made a sharp oral observation on the growing trend of election disputes reaching the judiciary.
“The problem is that as soon as elections come, part of the elections is fought in the Supreme Court,” the CJI remarked, while indicating that the matter would be listed for hearing on a later date. The plea was mentioned by Advocate Nizam Pasha, who urged the court to urgently intervene. He told the bench that despite complaints being submitted to authorities over the video and related remarks, no FIRs had been registered so far, raising concerns about accountability when senior constitutional office-holders are involved.
According to the petition, judicial intervention is necessary to prevent further damage to social harmony, especially with Assam heading into an election season in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sought to distance himself from the controversy. Speaking to reporters at an official programme in Dibrugarh, he said,
“I don’t know anything about any video,” declining to comment further.
The deleted clip allegedly showed Sarma holding a firearm and aiming at two men—one wearing a skull cap and another with a beard—alongside the caption “POINT BLANK SHOT.” Critics claimed the visuals were either digitally altered or AI-generated and accused the ruling party of using provocative imagery linked to a “foreigner-free Assam” campaign targeting illegal immigration.
