Home Ministry appoints Assam Cop on deputation at NIA after being named in High-Profile Graft Case by Sonowal Govt

• Image Credit: google

• Aug 24, 2023 | Poonam Nath

Timungpi was one of the 21 officers picked by the Sonowal government's Commission...

Digital Desk: After being named by a judicial commission in a high-profile graft case, the Ministry of Home Affairs appointed an Assam Police officer on assignment at the National Investigating Agency.

Rumi Timungpi, the officer, was examined for four hours in July 2021 by a one-man judicial commission led by retired judge Justice Biplab Sarma. Her interrogation had been based on the commission's request for a written response. She was working as a deputy superintendent of police in Assam Police's special section at the time.

The multi-crore corruption case termed the 'APSC scam' in Assam, was the first major blow at the erstwhile Congress rule by Sarbananda Sonowal's first BJP-led government in 2016. 

The state police, led by Sonowal as home minister, had detained not only the Commission's chairman, Rakesh Paul but also 21 officers who had entered the state administration via the APSC route in 2013.

The charge levelled against those currently serving officers was that they bribed some members of the Commission despite failing the qualifying examination. 

Additionally, Timungpi was one of the 21 officers nominated by the Sonowal government's Commission. The ruling BJP had slammed the Tarun Gogoi-led regime for engaging in corruption.

Despite the fact that the matter is being heard in a special court in Guwahati, the MHA nominated her on June 15 as Assistant Superintendent of Police at the NIA "on deputation basis for three years." The appointment was made following clearance from the state home department. 

According to an Assam government statement issued on August 11, she was relieved from duty by Assam Police to take up the new position at the NIA.

Paul, the then-APSC chairman, was released on bail in March after serving more than six years in prison. 

Notably, reports have emerged that Rimunpi, the officer in question, has not yet spoken publicly about her latest assignment at the NIA.