Three govt officials among six held by Assam CM special vigilance cell for graft

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Special Vigilance Cell, Assam, on Tuesday arrested six persons, including three government officials, on charges of misappropriation of over Rs 25 lakh meant for construction of roads in Mandia development block under the Baghbar legislative constituency in lower Assam’s Barpeta district.
A total of Rs 65 lakh was released for road construction under 14 MLA local area development schemes in 2017-18.Of Rs 65 lakh released, the accused siphoned off Rs 25,08,323 without execution of works as per plan and estimate.
CM Vigilance SP Rosie Kalita told the media on Wednesday that a vigilance team with the help of Public Works Department (PWD) experts conducted two rounds of enquiries after a complaint was received in 2018.
“Thereafter, a preliminary enquiry followed by a regular enquiry was conducted in the case. It took time. Following investigation the complaint was found to be true and, accordingly, a case was registered with CM Vigilance Cell on June 4. Following chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s direction to expedite the probe, six persons have been arrested on the basis of documentary, material and circumstantial evidences,” she said. Three teams of the CM Vigilance arrested the accused from Guwahati in Kamrup (Metro), Mangaldai in Darrang district and Barpeta district on Tuesday.
The accused have been identified as Yusufur Rahman (deputy CEO, Zilla Parishad, Mangaldai), Jadav Choudhury (the then block development officer, Mandia development block), Ainur Rahman (junior engineer, Mandia development block) and three members of construction committee of Mandia development block – Abdur Rezzak, Mujahidur Rahman and Sahjamal Ali.
Yusufur Rahman was BDO of Mandia development block in 2017-18 when the incident occurred.
The accused were produced before the court of special judge in Guwahati on Wednesday. While the court remanded Abdur Rezzak to two-day police custody, other five were sent to judicial custody.
The accused have been booked under Sections 406, 420, 409, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 1988.