Assam: Two government employees caught red-handed while taking bribes

• Image Credit: Google

• Sep 28, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Subsequently, a trap was set inside the office of the treasury officer, Kamrup Metro, Hengrabari, where Ali was caught red-handed...

Digital Desk: As a part of its stepped-up efforts to combat corrupt practices in government departments, teams from the Assam directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption set up traps in separate offices and caught two government employees accepting bribes on Wednesday.

In the first instance, the directorate received a complaint saying that Utpal Kumar Nath, additional patwari in the office of the settlement officer, Cachar and Hailakandi districts in Silchar, had sought Rs 2000 as a bribe for processing the complainant's land certification work.

"Subsequently, a trap was laid by a team from the directorate and Nath was caught red-handed soon after he accepted the bribe amount from the complainant. The bribe money has been recovered from his possession and accordingly seized in the presence of independent witnesses," an official statement said.

In the other case, the directorate received a similar complaint saying that Miachand Ali, a naik (unarmed branch) of police, CID, Assam, presently on deputation to the Assam Police headquarters in Ulubari, had sought Rs 10,000 from the complainant to expedite the processing and approval of two outstanding bills. Later, the bribe was reduced to Rs 2,000.

Subsequently, a trap was set inside the office of the treasury officer, Kamrup Metro, Hengrabari, where Ali was caught red-handed accepting bribe money from the complaint on Wednesday afternoon.

The bribe money was recovered from his possession and accordingly seized in presence of independent witnesses.

In light of this, cases under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) have been filed at the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) police station against the two government officials. The required legal action is now being taken.

In light of this, cases under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) have been filed at the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) police station against the two government officials. The required legal action is now being taken.

Sources quoted that about 50 government officials/employees, across various government departments, have been caught red-handed while accepting bribes and arrested by the directorate since May 10, 2021.