Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karbi Anglong official faces corruption charges

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption, Assam has detected huge amounts of cash deposits from unknown sources in the bank accounts of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Abhijit Rabha currently posted in Karbi Anglong.

An official communiqué issued by the SP, Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption, Assam, on Friday evening stated that the Directorate had initiated an inquiry on the basis of information received by the State Government, regarding suspicious huge financial cash deposits, to the tune of approximately Rs. 4.12 crores, for the period 2011-2016, in the bank accounts of Abhijit Rabha, IFS, the then Additional PCCF, Karbi Anglong.

During the inquiry, it was found that cash deposits ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 91 lakh were found in the bank accounts of Abhijit Rabha during the period from the year 2011 to 2017. Cash amounts were deposited in Rabha’s accounts in HDFC Bank, Diphu Branch and Axis Bank, Guwahati branch.

The communiqué stated that on being examined as regards the source of these cash deposits, Rabha, stated that he had earned an amount of Rs. 45 lakh from selling of broccoli which he was cultivating in a plot of land situated at Pajibindha Gaon at Rani in Kamrup district. However, Rabha could not reveal the sources of the other high value cash deposits. The suspect officer produced documents of an agreement made with one local person and others for purchase of land on which the mentioned broccoli farming was carried out; but during probe his claim was found to be false, as the land does not belong to him. However, the actual owner of that plot of land and other witnesses also stated before the probing team that no broccoli cultivation had been ever done on that plot of land.

According to the communiqué, Rabha was given ample scope to submit details for such huge financial assets found in his possession while he was holding office as a public servant but he did not cooperate with the probe team. Thus from the examination of bank account statements of Rabha, examination of the officer, examination of witnesses and field verification, the inquiry team established that during the period from 2011 to 2017, huge financial assets were found in his possession, in the form of cash deposits and he has not been able to satisfactorily account for any legal source of such income.

Thus it is established during inquiry that Rabha, IFS, being a public servant, has illicitly enriched himself, with assets to the tune of approximately Rs. 4.11 crore in the period from the year 2011 to 2017, for which he is culpable under Section 13(1)(b)/13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended. Accordingly a case vide ACB PS case no. 01/2020 under section 13(1)(b)/13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, has been registered on 06-02-2020, against Rabha, IFS, presently posted at Karbi-Anglong, Diphu as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

In connection with the said case, three teams of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) Police Station, after obtaining search warrant from the Special Court, Guwahati, on Friday conducted search operation at the residence of Rabha at Rajgarh in Guwahati, his official quarter at Diphu and his office chamber at PCCF Office, Diphu. The teams seized documents and articles relate to assets, bank accounts and LIC related documents, four laptops, mobile phones, cash amounting to Rs. 6 Lakh approximately, 50 handheld walkie talkie sets etc from the three locations.

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