Can a Minister Discredit Land Records and Still Claim Integrity?

“Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah has crossed all limits of falsehood.”
The statement isn’t speculative—it arises from mounting scrutiny over alleged land acquisitions linked to the minister’s wife, first reported in the media and now widely discussed online. In his Facebook post, Mallabaruah didn’t name any media outlet but referred to the reports circulating on social media as part of a “deliberate smear campaign” designed to malign his public image and insult the voters of Nalbari who elected him. But instead of addressing the core facts, the minister has chosen to question the narrative itself—even casting doubt on official land records cited in the reports.

And that, frankly, should set off alarm bells.

Let’s be clear: Mallabaruah’s statement, laced with indignation and political drama, is part damage control and part defiance. In his version, the accusations are not only false but “legally impossible”—because Indian law caps individual landholding at 50 bighas, and the allegations suggest his wife owns much more. He also claims that all assets, including those of his dependents, have been declared to the Election Commission and are available in the public domain.

So far, so standard. But where it becomes problematic is the minister's insinuation that even the land records—government-maintained and publicly verifiable—are suspect. That’s not just rebuttal. That’s a challenge to the integrity of the very systems ministers are supposed to uphold.

The Arrogance of Denial

Mallabaruah’s line—“Even smear campaigns should have their limits”—is ironic coming from someone who has not yet addressed the actual documents being shared, including land registration details and survey data allegedly linked to his wife. By calling the entire episode “flimsy fiction,” the minister risks sounding dismissive of due process and journalistic scrutiny. Worse, he paints anyone questioning him—including perhaps the voters themselves—as gullible pawns in a smear campaign.

This pattern of attacking the messenger—media, opposition, and even data—has become alarmingly common in Indian politics. It’s easier to cry “conspiracy” than to transparently explain discrepancies. It’s easier to invoke personal victimhood than to face public accountability.

When Defensiveness Becomes Political Theatre

Mallabaruah’s post is carefully crafted not just to refute allegations, but to emotionally mobilize his base. “This is an insult to the 1.06 lakh voters of Nalbari,” he writes, positioning himself as the wronged servant of the people. This tactic—of equating personal criticism with an attack on democracy or on the people themselves—is disingenuous. It shields the politician behind the electorate, creating a convenient smokescreen.

What about the facts? What about the names appearing in land records? What about the scale of acquisition? These questions remain unanswered.

The Weaponisation of Social Media

The choice of Facebook as his battleground is also telling. Mallabaruah is not speaking in the Assembly, not issuing a formal press release, not calling for an independent inquiry—but instead relying on the virality of a well-phrased Facebook post to do the heavy lifting. It’s the modern political playbook: dramatise the defence, discredit the critics, and let the algorithm do the rest.

But this is not just a social media squabble. It is a serious matter of public trust.

The Bigger Picture: A Crisis of Credibility

We must ask ourselves: if a minister can so casually question government records to save face, what does that say about the state’s own credibility? If public scrutiny is painted as political conspiracy, what does that say about our democracy’s tolerance for dissent and accountability?

This episode is not just about whether Jayanta Mallabaruah’s wife owns 75 or 265 bighas of land. It is about whether facts still matter in public life. It is about whether politicians are accountable to the truth—or only to their own version of it.

Final Thought

“It’s easy to spread lies. Facing the truth is the hard part,” the minister wrote. He’s right.

Now, it’s time he takes his own advice.

Also Read: Jayanta Mallabaruah Hits Back: “My Silence Should Not Be Seen as Weakness”