Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam: Special Court frames charges against 27 accused

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Special Court, Guwahati on Friday framed charges against 27 accused persons in the case pertaining to leakage of question papers of the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination in 2020 and discharged 14 other accused persons.

While framing charges against the accused persons, including former IPS officer PK Dutta, APS officer Kumar Sanjit Krishna, Saroj Sarma, Rubul Hazarika, Dibon Deka and Hirak Jyoti Baruah, the Special Court judge observed: "After perusal of the material collected by the investigation officer, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that accused have committed offence… accordingly, formal charges under various sections against above-mentioned accused persons are framed."

Regarding the 14 other accused persons, the judge said: "I am of the considered view that there is not sufficient ground for proceeding against them and hence the accused persons are discharged."

It may be recalled that a written test was held for recruitment of SIs to the Assam Police on September 20, 2020 at various centres across the State. However, the examination had to be cancelled due to leakage of question papers. On the same day, a written FIR was lodged by Pradip Kumar, the then Chairman of the State Level Police Recruitment Board, with the IGP (CID), stating that the written test for recruitment was to be held at various centres under the supervision of District Level Recruitment Committees, but unfortunately the question papers were leaked and circulated on WhatsApp and the written test had to be cancelled.

After investigation, the CID subsequently filed the first charge sheet against 36 accused and later filed an additional charge sheet against six other accused persons. The charges were filed under Sections 120-B/119/201/409/420 IPC and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act. Trial of the case will start from May 27.

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