Sonowal's anti-graft crusade in full throttle

430 corruption-related cases registered and 315 government employees arrested for graft between May 2016 and November 16 this year

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 24: One-and-half years into its term, the Sarbanda Sonowal-led ruling dispensation’s operation clean-up against graft launched in May last year seems to be right on track and showing impressive results.

After the 3-party alliance of AGP, BJP and BPF swept through the 2016 Assembly elections by routing the Congress, Chief Minister Sonowal had announced a crusade against corruption, foreigners and pollution; in his words, “corruption-free Assam, foreigners-free Assam and pollution-free Assam”.

While the jury is still out on how his government is moving on the other two fronts till now, Sonowal’s war against graft has achieved momentum with State government employees accused of graft facing the heat.

After coming to power, the Chief Minister had given free hand to investigation agencies to pursue all corruption- related cases. This has ebled them to probe such cases with full vigour and without fear or favour, which was not the case during the erstwhile regime, sources said.

“Earlier, their hands were tied,” confided a source.

Several cases, including a few high-profile ones, have been registered since May 2016 including those related to the cash-for-job scam in Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), scam in Labour department, ‘Vision Assam, Mission Assam’ scam in Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), scam in Social Welfare department, BG Bonded Warehouse scam in Excise department, and so on.

And not just registration of cases in all these high-profile scams, investigation too has gathered momentum in all of them after the Sonowal government took over. For instance, though a case was registered during the earlier Congress regime, probe into the alleged scam in Agriculture department is now being pursued vigorously, sources confirmed.

The figures look substantial – altogether 430 corruption-related cases were registered between May 2016 and 16th November this year by agencies like the Crimil Investigation Department (CID), Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (CM SVC), Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Cell, police etc.

And Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Cell alone has registered 48 anti-graft cases against various government officials during the period under review, of which 23 were trap cases, meaning officials were caught red-handed while accepting bribe.

Further, 315 officials have been arrested for alleged involvement in various corruption-related cases during this period by investigation agencies. Of these, CID, CM SVC and Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Cell had made 48, 13 and 39 arrests respectively. The police have arrested the remaining 215 government officials.

The total arrests also include the 22 Assam Civil Service, Assam Police Service and Allied Service officials apprehended (till November 16) for their alleged involvement in the cash-for-job scam in APSC. Another ACS officer has since been arrested.

Prominent arrests during the period also include the likes of former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul, former APSC members Samedur Rahman and Basanta Doley and APSC deputy controller of examition Pabitra Koiborto – the key quartet in the cash-for-job scam; Irrigation Secretary Kujendra Doley for allegedly accepting a bribe in his office at Jata Bhawan itself; Panchayat & Rural Development secretary Chohan Doley in the Rs 121-crore scam in Assam Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board; DIPR director Ranjit Gogoi in the ‘Vision Assam, Mission Assam’ scam, etc.

Some former senior bureaucrats too have not been able to escape the dragnet set by police and investigating agencies. For instance, former IAS official Dilip Borthakur was arrested for alleged involvement in the Social Welfare department scam.

Several other government officials are under scanner for alleged involvement in various irregularities and may be arrested in the days to come, sources said.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Sentinel, Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay said since the government has given them a free hand, all investigating agencies are pursuing their cases with full vigour.

“We are equipping agencies like CID, CM SVC, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Cell, etc, with additiol men to strengthen them and help them in their probes. Also, all corruption cases are being supervised at the highest level. So, no matter how senior position a public servant may be holding, he or she will not be spared for indulging in fincial irregularities. Everyone will be taken to task as per law and evidence,” Sahay warned.