1. The court will announce punishment for the 32 convicted in Assam’s ADO cash-for-jobs case on August 29.
2. On July 22, the court convicted 32 individuals, including former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul.
3. The case was filed in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Bhangagarh police station.
Guwahati, July 24: The court of Special Judge Dipankar Thakuria will deliver the quantum of punishment for the 32 people convicted in the cash-for-jobs case related to the appointment of agricultural development officers (ADO) in Assam on August 29.
On July 22, the court convicted 32 individuals, including former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman Rakesh Paul, in connection with the case filed at the Bhangagarh police station in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The sentencing was deferred to allow time for hearing the convicts.
The court acquitted 11 other accused due to lack of evidence, while APSC member Binita Rynjha turned approver. The case originally involved 44 accused, including four commission members, an employee, three middlemen, and 36 candidates.
The investigation began after a candidate who failed to qualify for the job filed a complaint, alleging that another candidate’s marks had been increased in exchange for money.
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This complaint was based on information obtained through an RTI application regarding changes in the tabulation of marks.
Rakesh Paul and other APSC officials were also arrested in connection with another cash-for-jobs case related to the Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE) for the recruitment of civil and police officials. Since 2016, the Assam Police has arrested nearly 70 people, including Paul and 57 civil service officials, for similar irregularities.
The CCE case is currently being investigated by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) under the direction of the Gauhati High Court.
