What is the truth behind the accusation that Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) lied and that Ali supplicated for him to be afflicted with leprosy, and how can he be defended?

Anas ibn Malik was among the senior Companions and their scholars, and one of those who narrated many hadiths. Many Companions praised him, and the imams of the Tabi'in (successors) narrated hadith from him. Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from him, and Al-Dhahabi described him as "the Imam, the Mufti, the Reciter, the Muhaddith, the narrator of Islam." He loved Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.