Guwahati, 18th January: Suspended Assam Civil Servant Sukanya Borah was arrested on January 18 in connection with the Assam MPLAD scam. The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell conducted a thorough interrogation before taking her into custody on allegations of amassing properties disproportionate to her income.
Earlier reports, based on her aunt’s statements, suggested that Borah falsely declared her mother as mentally unstable to acquire properties across multiple locations in Assam. Borah had been suspended in March 2023 due to suspected irregularities in projects funded by the MPLAD fund.
Despite an anticipatory bail plea rejected by the Gauhati High Court in May, Borah was arrested. Retired PWD engineer Samed Ali and Deputy Conservator of Forests Bhaskar Deka were also arrested in connection with the scam. Reports indicate their lack of cooperation during the interrogation process.
The MPLAD scam involves the misappropriation of funds from Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan’s MPLAD fund, designated for a road construction project in Barpeta, Assam. Investigations revealed premature payments made before 75 percent of the work was completed, with four suspended officers, including Borah, approving the payments.
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