CID seeks more time to submit prosecution sanction order

MULTI-CRORE-RUPEE AGRICULTURE SCAM

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 6: The Sarbanda Sonowal-led coalition at Dispur has adopted zero tolerance to corruption as its approach. Is this approach applicable for all and sundry?  A burning question!

The CID of the Assam Police today failed to submit the prosecution sanction order against five officers of the State Agriculture Department to the Special Judge Court in connection with a corruption case. The judge had asked the CID to submit the prosecution sanction order today against the five agriculture officers in connection with CID case (56/14). The CID in their charge sheet submitted to the court earlier had accused Dr. Birendra th Sarma, Lakheswar Gam, Dilip Kumar Baruah, Ranbir  Kakati and Rohit Bharali for their involvement in the Rs 700 crore agriculture scam in the State. However, the CID today sought 15 days more time from the special judge court to submit the prosecution sanction order against the five accused as it is yet to receive the order from the Agriculture Department.

State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora was on record telling the media recently that he had not received any file seeking prosecution sanction order against the five accused officers of his department who had been released on bail due to lack of prosecution sanction order against them. The minister, however, brought changes in his statement later saying that the CID file seeking prosecution sanction order against the accused officers had been placed on his table on the night on May 31, much after the accused officers had been released on bail. Bora said that he had ordered an inquiry to ascertain on whose tables the CID’s file was gathering dust over the days.