News Reporter
Guwahati, Assam, July 29, 2024 — The Court of Special Judge in Assam has delivered a landmark verdict in the notorious Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-job scam. Former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 2 lakh.
Former APSC members Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman have each received 10-year jail terms and similar fines. Additionally, 29 candidates who secured Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) positions through bribes in 2014 have been sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined Rs. 10,000 each.
The fraudulent ADO recruitment process took place in 2013 under Rakesh Paul's leadership. Investigations revealed that the accused obtained their positions by paying substantial bribes. Of the 44 individuals charged, 11 were acquitted earlier due to insufficient evidence. Among the acquitted were Vikash Pincha, Kunal Das, and Kaushik Kalita, who acted as middlemen, along with APSC employee Syed Musharraf Hussain and candidates Beauty Gogoi, Phiruj Moran, Jyotiban Dutta, Saijali Johori, Dhritiman Roy, Mousumi Saikia, and Boichitra Hakmaosa.
Special Court Judge Deepak Thakuria mandated judicial custody for all 29 convicted officials, who broke down upon hearing the verdict. The convicted individuals include Mrigen Haloi, Phanindra Saikia, Pranab Bharali, Jyotirekha Das, Kobin Killingpi, Preeti Das, Alok Kumar Mali, Biswajit Doley, Kesabananda Borah, Bornali Medhi, Bipul Kumar Deka, Sweety Borah Hazarika, Satyanath Deka, Kamal Krishna Das, Rituraj Sonowal, Anjan Loying, Priyanka Bora, Rosheshwar Timung, Sanghamitra Shyam, Bidyut Das, Alpona Deori, Jayanta Jeet Das, Dipankar Borik, Raushan Roufi, Pranjal Barman, Shakeel Aziz Hoque, Kalyan Sharma, and Mofida Begum Saikia.
These individuals were convicted under Bhangagarh P.S. Case No. 159/2017 for charges under Sections 120(B), 420, and 468 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to irregularities in the ADO Examination conducted by the APSC. Additionally, Rakesh Paul, Basanta Kumar Doley, and Samedur Rahman were also convicted under Sections 7, 13(1)(a)(d)(iii), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This verdict marks a significant step in the fight against corruption and upholds the integrity of public service recruitment processes in Assam.