Assam: Suspended ACS Officer Arrested for Property Accumulation in MPLAD Scam

GUWAHATI: In a recent development, the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) apprehended Sukanya Borah, a suspended Additional District Commissioner (ADC) of Kamrup Metro district in Assam, in connection with the MPLAD scam. The SVC had repeatedly interrogated Borah regarding her involvement in the scam.

Borah faces allegations of amassing properties beyond her legitimate earnings, using the names of family members and relatives. The investigating team learned that Borah's aunt accused her of framing her mother as mentally unstable to wrongfully acquire the amassed property. The properties in question include substantial holdings in Guwahati, Morigaon, Hajo, North Guwahati, among other locations.

The tainted officer, Sukanya Borah, was suspended in March 2023 due to suspected irregularities in executing projects funded by the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund. In May, her plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Gauhati High Court. Alongside Borah, the SVC also arrested retired PWD engineer Samed Ali and Deputy Conservator of Forests Bhaskar Deka, both of whom were uncooperative during the interrogation.

The MPLAD scam involves the misappropriation of funds from Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan’s MPLAD fund. The funds were designated for the construction of a road in Barpeta, Assam. However, it was discovered during an inquiry by the CM’s Special Vigilance Cell that the payment was approved before the completion of 75% of the road construction. Four suspended officers, including Sukanya Borah, were implicated in approving the payment prematurely.

This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into corruption and malpractice related to MPLAD funds in Assam. The case not only exposes financial irregularities but also sheds light on the alleged abuse of power and influence by public officials involved in the implementation of development projects. As the SVC delves deeper into the MPLAD scam, additional details may emerge, unraveling the extent of corruption within the administrative framework of the state.

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