Controversy over inquiry into alleged false certificate produced by OIL job aspirant

From our Correspondent

TINSUKIA, Feb 11: Procurement of false caste certificate by an aspirant of OIL job allegedly by fraudulent means led to submission of two FIRs in Tinsukia PS after the Deputy Commissioner asked for an inquiry being conducted by an Assistant Commissioner, who himself got embroiled into the controversy following an issue of illegal gratification. According to records available, Sushil Kr Pandey of Bishnupur Jagun, Akashdeep Das, son of Dipak Das, Digboi and Biswajit Debth, son of Nirmal Debth Digboi, were asked vide letter No TAI 1/CV/2017/Pt-1 of January 30, 2018 to appear before Juga Krish Rajbongshi, Assistant Commissioner, on February 5, 2018 for verification of their caste certificates. The episode began after the OIL sought verification of caste documents from the Deputy Commissioner Tinsukia on September 14, 2017 vide no ER: REC/15/2017/USK-576 pertaining to Biswajit Debth who cleared both written and verbal examition and was awaiting appointment. Debth was listed among three others in OIL’s letter. The Tinsukia district administration, after much dilly-dallying for five months, responded to OIL’s letter and appointed Juga Krish Rajbongshi as inquiry officer.

While examining Debth’s documents at his office chamber on February 5, 2018, the inquiry officer Rajbongshi found some discrepancy in documents as the OBC certificate bearing no 37331 of 15.12.2009 submitted by Debth in OIL was not countersigned by the SDO(S) Margherita.  Rajbongshi asked Debth to produce the origil caste certificate of his father Nirmal Debth, a former employee of Oil India Limited, next day. On February 6, 2018, Biswajit Debth produced a fresh caste certificate bearing no 22967 issued on January 19, 2018 countersigned on behalf of SDO(S) Margherita but without official seal. Rajbongshi claimed that the certificate was false. All these deliberations took place in presence of Prab Saikia, chairman of OBC Committee.

Biswajit Debth later lodged an FIR against Prab Saikia on February 7, 2018 stating that the Assistant Commissioner had asked him to negotiate with Saikia to regularize his OBC certificate and to obtain the certificate in the me of his father backdated and for this he had to spend a large amount of money. The FIR further mentioned that Rajbongshi said that it was only Saikia who could save him and advised him to talk with him outside the chamber. Later, Saikia took Debth to a nearby hotel and asked a bribe of Rs 4 lakh for regularizing the OBC certificate. The FIR also stated that the conversation with Rajbongshi was recorded by him, besides informing the Tinsukia DC about the entire matter.

Following day, Saikia lodged a counter-FIR against Biswajit Debth. While the FIR of Debth was registered as 153/18 u/s 420/305, the FIR of Saikia against Debth has been registered as 154/18 u/s 420/506. The police are hopeful to shed some light in a week as the investigation is on. While other cases relating to forgery in caste certificate are being investigated, a police source said a big nexus has been operating in the district in active connivance with some dubious officials.