Rs 1 lakh each for information on ex-DIG PK Dutta & Diban Deka

Lookout Notice to prevent Dutta from fleeing India

SI EXAM PROBE

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Police has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh each for information on the whereabouts of former Assam DIG (Deputy Inspector General) PK Dutta and also Diban Deka -– both prime accused in the leakage of question papers for the recruitment of 597 SI (Sub Inspectors) in the State. A 'Lookout Notice' has also been issued against Dutta.

Announcing this at a virtual press-meet here on Monday, Assam DGP (Director General of Police) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said, "Rs one lakh each will be provided for information leading to the arrest of the duo. Law is same for all. If any proof of involvement is found, he/she will have to come under the investigation process," said DGP Mahanta.

"The 'Lookout Notice' has been served so that Dutta cannot leave India," added Additional DGP (Law & Order) GP Singh, at the same press briefing. Replying to a question about some media reports that Dutta is already in Nepal, Singh said: The borders are under strict vigil.

On the properties of ex-DIG PK Dutta, Singh said, "These are being assessed. Besides the residence and four hotels in Guwahati, Dutta owns 1,600 bigha of land at Udharbond in the Barak Valley. The Cachar DC has been officially asked to collect the land details.

"A building by the name of 'Bhargav Residency' is under construction in Dibrugarh. The Dibrugarh SP has been directed to find the source of finance and the status of that land. We've also learnt that Dutta owns two flats at Andheri (West) in Mumbai.

"These data have been shared with the Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. The Vigilance & Anti Corruption branch of the Assam Police will also be handed over the information."

On the suspected persons and prime accused, Singh said, "Approximately 60 to 70% of the present investigation is purely technical. The State Police has already got the list, and action will definitely be taken to nab all of them.

"However, the FIR with CID did not have the name of Diban Deka. His name came to light in the confessions of the persons arrested from 'Thank You Lodge' in Guwahati. It has been proved that Diban delivered question papers at the lodge. We'll know the source of the question papers only after Diban is arrested.

"Altogether six persons have been arrested from Nalbari district. They include the four detained candidates — Dhrubajyoti Barua from Kamalpur, Sanjib Barman from Belsor, Mridul Barman and Parthapratim Pathak – both from Makhibaha. The two other arrested persons are Kuldeep Rajbongshi from near the Nalbari Law College, and Harkat Ali – suspected to be a middleman — from Bhangnamari. Image copies of the leaked question paper have been found in their laptops and mobile sets.

"Hirakjyoti Barua, a resident of West Karbi Anglong, was the first person to procure the question paper. He was arrested from Nagaon on September 22.

The IGP (Inspector General of Police) of CID (Criminal Investigation Department), Surendra Kumar said, "Till date, we have arrested four persons. They are Hirakjyoti Barua, Rupam Deka, Rituraj Bora, and Joydeep Barua. During medical examination, Joydeep tested COVID positive, and was shifted to GMCH (Gauhati Medical College & Hospital).

"CID carried out search operations at PK Dutta's Hengerabari residence and two hotels at Lokhra and Betkuchi — in Guwahati — on September 23 and 24. From Dutta's residence, we seized 1.522 kg of gold ornaments, a .32 pistol (expired licence) with four rounds of ammunition and an e-admit card of a candidate.

"An amount of Rs 5.50 lakh was seized from Hotel Bhargav Grand in Betkuchi. The hotel manager has not been able to give satisfactory answer on the source of that recovered money. Our sleuths also found guest registration cards of some candidates from that hotel.

"From Hotel Bhargav at Lokhra, we recovered a burnt flex banner of a training-cum-recruitment centre, 445 admission forms, a leaflet of an advertisement, admission money receipts from candidates – all connected with the SI recruitment process.

The Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, Munna Prasad Gupta, informed, "Till now, the Crime Branch has arrested nine persons in this case.

A police source informed on Monday night that while Kumud Goswami was arrested from Tihu, Suraj Barua was arrested from Jyotikuchi in Noonmati (Guwahati).

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