Action will be taken against all persons involved in scam: DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta

SI RECRUITMENT PROBE

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: "Action will be taken against all persons involved in the scam. All of them will be brought to the book. We'll find out the source(s) and the modus operandi of the group(s) involved in the leakage of the question papers. These are the primary thrusts of our investigation," emphasized DGP (Director General of Police)-cum Chairman of SLPRB (State-level Police Recruitment Board) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta while addressing the media here on Saturday.

The scam is related to the recruitment process of 597 Police Sub Inspectors (SI-Unarmed).

The DGP pointed out, "Already the SLPRB has disengaged the firms engaged in the recruitment process. The SLPRB will conduct the SI examination in association with Dibrugarh University on November 22. The MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) will be signed in a day or two, and the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) will be published accordingly."

He added, "Altogether 45 persons have been arrested till date. Of the five cases registered at various places, one each has been done by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), and the Crime branch. Besides, one case each has been registered in the police stations at Nalbari, North Lakhimpur and Diphu."

He further said, "Following confessions by Rubul Hazarika and Saroj Sarma, raids were conducted at various places in Chirang, Barpeta, and Bongaigaon districts. A large amount of money has been seized. Approximately Rs 5.20 crore has been recovered; however, counting is still on."

Sources informed that of the seized amount, Rs 3,33,36,400 were recovered from the house of Tarini Banikya at Barigaon, Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon district on Saturday. Tarani is the father in-law of Rupam Das, who is an employee of NFR. Also a close aide of Rubul Hazarika, Rupam Das was detained by Bongaigaon Police on Friday night. In another raid at Barpeta during the day, an amount of Rs 1,85,05,740 was seized from another NFR employee — Devaraj Das, Chief Loko Inspector (Mechanical department) Gandhi Nagar, Barpeta. He is presently posted in New Bongaigaon. Rs 15,46,500 was also seized from the house of Pradip Mazumdar, in Bongaigaon. During yet another raid, Rs 3,00,000 was seized from the house of Sultan Ali Ahmed in Chirang district. Sources added that investigation is on as to the source of the seized money.

Mentionably, during raids at the house rented by Saroj Sarma on October 7, CID sleuths seized a Land Rover, a blank cheque of Rs five lakhs, and also some admit cards. It was on that vehicle that the accused mastermind of the scam — former State DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Prasanta Kumar Dutta — fled from Guwahati to Siliguri (en-route to Nepal) on September 23. The company — Krishna Global — owned by the Sarma couple at Geetanagar in Guwahati was sealed on October 8.

On the investigation processes, CID IGP (Inspector General of Police) Surendra Kumar said, "We are examining the conspiracy angle in the entire case. We're trying to file the charge sheets within the mandatory period of 90 days.

"Already 10 persons have recorded their statements (under Section 164 CrPC) in front of the magistrate.

"Moreover, 31 rooms of Hotel Bhargav Grand and Hotel Bhargav (at Betkuchi and Lokhara respectively in Guwahati) were sealed on October 6. This has been done as illegal activities took place there. Now, forensic investigation will follow."

Kumar revealed, "We've written to the competent authority to cancel the licences of both these hotels. Their owner and management conspired in an organized manner in this case. Besides, evidences of crime scenes have been also found at both these hotels."

"Our IO (Investigation Officer) has filed a plea in the Court seeking the addition of three more Sections in the SI recruitment case (21/2020). These are: 201, 204 IPC and 25 (1) (B) of the Arms Act. These sections pertain to the destroying of evidence(s) and violation of the Arms Act respectively.

"We're also examining the eight computer hard disks seized during raids at the 'Akshay Tele Communication (ATC)', Dharapur, in Guwahati on October 7. This firm was given the responsibility to conduct the SI recruitment examination earlier slated on September 20.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-Law & Order) GP Singh said, "All suspected persons and firms have been brought under investigation. Once evidence is found, action will be taken accordingly."

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