DirVAC drive against bribery in 2024
Staff Reporter
Guwahati: In line with the state BJP government’s policy of zero-tolerance for corruption, the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption (DirVAC) conducted 61 successful trap operations in bribery cases and arrested 74 persons in these trap operations during the year 2024. Of the 74 arrested, 70 were public servants and 4 middlemen.
Among the 70 public servants, 34 are officers, which works out to 49.27% of those arrested for bribery. Cash amounting to Rs 2,14,02,570 was recovered from the tainted employees.
Among the officers arrested is Jayanta Goswami, an executive engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, who was arrested by the sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, after trapping him red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 20,000. Later, a search at his residence led to the recovery of Rs 79,87,500 in cash. Jayanta Goswami was working as an executive engineer at the office of the Superintending Engineer (PHE), North Lakhimpur Circle, when he was arrested and was found accepting Rs 20,000 as a bribe at a local hotel in Hengrabari, Guwahati, in connection with the payment of bills.
Another officer, Partha Hazarika, was arrested in a trap operation by sleuths from the Directorate. Hazarika, a Section Officer of the Excise Department, was caught red-handed accepting a bribe near the main gate of Janata Bhawan in Dispur. Hazarika was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs. 24,500 from a complainant in exchange for issuing an ‘IMFL ON shop’ license. Later, a search at his residence in Basistha, Guwahati, resulted in recovery of Rs. 47,30,500 in cash.
Regarding the plans for the Directorate’s activities in 2025, Assam DGP, G P Singh took to his X handle to say, “Discussed ‘Roadmap 2025 for V&AC’ at Vigilance Hq. The successes achieved in 2023 & 2024 present a bedrock for greater successes in 2025 in service to the people of Assam.”
Also Read: Assam: Land Record Assistant in Bajali Arrested for Bribery in Anti-Corruption Operation
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