Assam: PWD Official's Arrest Leads to Seizure of ₹45.5 Lakh

GUWAHATI: In a subsequent development, the investigators from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption cell have unearthed a substantial sum of unexplained cash at the residence of Manuj Kumar Saikia, a detained Executive Engineer from the Public Works Department (PWD) for Roads and Buildings (R&B). This breakthrough occurred on Friday, as a response to the arrest made on charges of bribery.

A mere day following the apprehension of the government official under allegations of graft, the task force against corruption conducted a thorough search of his domicile. The outcome was staggering: a total of ₹45,54,385 in physical currency was seized.

Manuj Kumar Saikia held his position in the Haflong Division situated in the district of Dima Hasao. His undoing came about when he was caught red-handed at his post. The authorities apprehended him as he accepted ₹10,000, a portion of the bribe demanded from the complainant, on Thursday.

The dawn of the subsequent day saw the fruition of the anti-corruption unit's efforts, with the retrieval of the aforementioned substantial cash sum from Saikia's abode. In an official statement shared on the 'X' platform, the agency reported, "Reference: Manuj Kumar Saikia, Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), Haflong Division arrest. A search operation yielded an amount of ₹45,54,385 (Forty-Five Lakh, Fifty-Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty-Five Rupees) from various locations associated with him."

It's important to note that the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption received a formal complaint against Manuj Kumar Saikia. The allegation centered on his solicitation of a bribe totaling ₹55,000, intended to expedite the release of pending invoices for the complainant. Subsequently, Saikia revised his illicit demand, reducing it to ₹25,000.

The complainant, unyielding to the prospect of offering a bribe, opted to approach the Directorate to pursue lawful action against the implicated public official. In accordance with the complaint, a meticulously executed operation was set in motion on Thursday by a team affiliated with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption. As a result, Manuj Kumar Saikia was apprehended in the act.

The tainted currency, constituting the unlawful bribe, was confiscated from Saikia's possession during the operation. This was achieved in the presence of corroborative witnesses, further cementing the authenticity of the apprehension and recovery.

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