Guwahati, 28th April: The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) recruitment scandal faces further scrutiny as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam police intensifies its inquiries by questioning four officers allegedly involved in malpractice.
The officers under scrutiny include an Assam Police Service (APS) officer, Samarajyoti Bhuyan, two Excise Superintendents, Manavjyoti Das and Vedanta Bhushan Shaikia, and a Superintendent of Taxes, Ganpati Roy. Notably, Manavjyoti Das has a prior record, having been arrested on bribery charges.
The investigation, spearheaded by the SIT, focuses on a suspected discrepancy between examination scores and final ranks, as indicated by an official statement.
Specifically, these officers are under investigation for purportedly securing undeservedly high ranks despite scoring low marks, adding complexity to the APSC recruitment saga.
This development follows the interrogation of five APSC examiners and inspectors at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in April.
Further intensifying the probe, the SIT has summoned an additional five examiners and inspectors linked to the 2013 APSC examination. Approximately 30 individuals involved in examination processes are expected to face questioning by the CID.
The genesis of the SIT’s investigation dates back to September 30, 2023, when prompted by a directive from the Gauhati High Court, the Assam government established the Special Investigation Team. Led by Munna Prasad Gupta, ADGP of CID, Assam, the SIT commenced its inquiries by scrutinizing 25 officers suspected of securing APSC positions through illicit means.
Despite the commission’s findings implicating 34 officers, only six arrests were made, prompting inquiries into the rationale behind the non-questioning of other allegedly involved individuals.
As the investigation unfolds, questions arise regarding the integrity of the APSC recruitment process and the accountability of those involved, casting a shadow over the governmental response to the scandal.