Guwahati: One of the major suspects in the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) sludge extraction fraud, contractor Mithu Agarwal has been brought to Guwahati from Bihar.
The Special Vigilance Cell of the Assam Chief Minister had arrested him on December 2 in the Supaul district of Bihar in relation to the incident. He was produced before the Supaul Chief Judicial Magistrate yesterday, after which he has now been brought to Guwahati.
His transit remand had been approved by the Bihar Court yesterday, enabling his travel to Guwahati where he will now be questioned regarding the issue.
He reportedly arrived at the CM Vigilance Cell’s office a bit ago. He will be questioned in relation to the major sludge extraction fraud that has shaken GMC.
Agarwal’s name popped up when officials were investigating into the massive sludge extraction scam, where fake checks were printed to steal money from the GMC.
It should be mentioned that he had been missing since the scam was unearthed in October of this year and the CM Vigilance Cell had issued a lookout notice against him on November 22.
Eight suspects were previously arrested by Assam’s CM Vigilance Cell detectives for allegedly participating in the massive GMC fraud in Guwahati.
The arrested individuals were identified as GMC OSD Babulal Sharma, cleanliness officer Aafis Ahmed and Executive Engineers Shankar Medhi, Ramakant Saikia, Elleen Begum, Chittaranjan Dutta, and Hiranya Barman.
They also arrested Director of Dinsan Global Venture, Dinesh Jaiswal in connection with the incident.
Officials said that individuals who were arrested had a long history of extorting money by presenting false bills. They would print fictitious money under the pretence of sludge extraction.
Officers carried out an operation during which the corrupt officials were arrested after learning of the illicit actions.
Since the incident came to light, the Gauhati High Court has also granted bail to a number of the accused.