GUWAHATI: Former forest minister Rockybul Hussain moved a lower court here on Tuesday against his fellow Assam Pradesh Congress Committee ( APCC ) member Anil Raja, who had alleged that Hussain acquired a huge amount of disproportionate assets by unfair means. The minister has filed a criminal defamation suit against Raja, accusing that his allegations are part of a political conspiracy aimed at damaging his public reputation.On Tuesday, Hussain personally appeared before the court and recorded his statement. After coming out of the court, the minister told media, "I defy all the claims made by Anil Raja. If he can prove his claims I will announce my retirement from public life. This is a political conspiracy and an attempt to malign my image."The former forest minister joked that Raja can have all his properties if he can prove his claims. He informed that the court will record the statement of two others. "After recording their statements, the court will take up the matter," said Hussain.Following the allegations, the Congress had reportedly served a showcause notice on Raja for not taking the party's permission before mounting the verbal attack on Hussain. APCC president Ripun Bora said Raja's statement has nothing to do with the party.Raja had earlier claimed before media that Hussain owns assets worth crores of rupees illegally. He alleged that Hussain had used his tenure as minister to buy several properties in a clandestine manner, that he owns multiple expensive apartments in Delhi, shares in some cement and plywood manufacturing companies.

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