STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam arrested an ACS officer in a bribery case and later recovered substantial cash and financial documents during searches conducted at his residence in the city.
Officials stated that a complaint had alleged that Lachit Kumar Das, ACS, serving as Additional Director of Land Records at the Directorate of Land Records in Rupnagar, had sought a bribe of Rs 1 lakh for issuing a No-Objection Certificate related to land sale permission.
Following the complaint, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Directorate laid a trap on May 21. Officials said Das was caught inside his office chamber immediately after he allegedly accepted Rs 45,000 from the complainant as part of the demanded amount.
The tainted cash was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses and seized by the investigating team. A case was subsequently registered at the Anti-Corruption Bureau Police Station under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Following the arrest, officials carried out a search at Das’s residence at Rani Bagan near Beltola Tiniali in Guwahati. The operation continued until the early hours of May 22.
During the search, the team reportedly recovered cash amounting to Rs 48.38 lakh from a locker at the residence. Officials also seized fixed deposit (FD) certificates valued at Rs 80 lakh in the names of the accused and his family members.
Investigators further recovered insurance policy documents, records of multiple bank accounts and papers linked to landed properties. Officials said the scrutiny of the financial records and assets seized during the operation remained in progress.
Also Read: Assam: CM's Vigilance Team Raids Residences Of ACS Officers Over Land Scam Allegations