SI Question-paper leak: Mystery deepens, agencies clueless of prime suspects' whereabouts

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The mystery — surrounding the probes into the question paper leak of the recruitment examination for 597 State Police Sub Inspectors — is deepening with every passing day. The two investigating agencies have not been able to get clues about the whereabouts of the prime suspects even on the sixth day following the incident on September 20, 2020. Now, questions are being raised as to how the prime suspects had simply disappeared after the investigation processes commenced.

In more developments on Saturday, Tinsukia Police detained Joydeb Barua – a close associate of PK Dutta. Barua hails from Chandmari in Guwahati, and reportedly looks after the business interests of Dutta. The CID also arrested two other persons identified as Rupam Deka and Rituraj Bora during the last 24 hours.

The two main suspects in the scam are retired State DIG (Deputy Inspector General) of Assam Police PK Dutta and Diban Deka, who is a businessman by profession.

The probes and search operations are being separately conducted by the Crime Branch and the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) of the Assam Police.

CID sources informed that on September 20, 2020, Chairman of the 'State Level Police Recruitment Board, Assam' – Pradip Kumar filed the FIR (First Information Report) with the CID on this case. Kumar took the step after he was informed of the paper leak over the phone by a person who identified himself as Gautam Mech. The person also said that he had a copy of that leaked question paper. On being asked by Kumar, Gautam stated that he had got the copy from Diban Deka.

It's a mystery as to why Gautam willingly informed Kumar of the case.

Kumar then told Gautam to accompany Diban and meet him. Then, Kumar took both of them to the CID office at Ulubari that very day. While filing the FIR there, both Diban and Gautam were present. However, CID sleuths are now unable to trace Diban.

When asked, police sources told The Sentinel that at that time, the CID did not have adequate evidence to detain Diban.

It has been learnt that while Diban was involved in circulating the question paper among the vested circles, ex-DIG PK Dutta was allegedly handling the monetary aspect of the entire transaction with the candidates involved in the case.

Meanwhile, Crime Branch sources said that the group involved in the scam had prepared a list of 48 candidates. Of these, 10 names were recommended by Sanjeev Sarma, who has been already arrested. Sarma confessed of his role during interrogation. At that time, he worked as a 'Confidential Assistant' in the STF (Special Task Force) of Assam Police. Now he has been placed under suspension.  

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