STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (CM’s SVC) has filed a charge sheet against Surjya Baruah, the arrested Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Assam’s Kokrajhar district, in a high-profile disproportionate assets case. Baruah was arrested in April this year for allegedly possessing wealth far beyond his declared sources of income.
According to the investigation, Surjya Baruah had accumulated assets worth 198% more than his known income. During his arrest, a substantial amount of cash was recovered from his vehicle. Officials confirmed that Baruah had been involved in corrupt practices since 2014.
The charge sheet reveals that the total value of Baruah’s disproportionate assets is close to Rs 40 crore. The CM’s Vigilance Cell submitted the comprehensive charge sheet within just 58 days of Baruah’s arrest, highlighting the seriousness and urgency of the case. The charge sheet also names Baruah’s wife. Earlier, investigation revealed that a petrol pump and a construction company are registered under her name, allegedly used to conceal ill-gotten wealth.
Surjya Baruah was initially detained in Kokrajhar in April and formally arrested in connection with Case No. 10/25. He was taken into custody from a black Scorpio vehicle bearing registration number AS01FK0020. During the arrest, officials seized Rs 3,77,600 in cash from the vehicle, while an additional Rs 52,000 was found from him.
Sources further said that Baruah owns 12 luxury vehicles, which are being examined as part of the investigation. The Vigilance Cell had earlier conducted a raid at Baruah’s residence in Ananda Nagar, Bhangagarh, in January this year. The raid led to the recovery of Rs 37 lakh in cash and a .32 calibre pistol.
Simultaneously, another raid was conducted at an under-construction building linked to Baruah in Aloknagar, Six Mile, Guwahati. Authorities believe this property is also part of the assets accumulated through corrupt means.
Also read: Guwahati: CM’s SVC Raids, Arrested CDPO Surjya Baruah’s Residence
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