HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 16: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said stringent legal action would be pursued against Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer Nupur Borah, arrested for allegedly amassing assets vastly disproportionate to her known sources of income.
Borah, posted as Circle Officer in Goroimari under Kamrup district at the time of her arrest, was found to possess wealth nearly 400 times higher than her official earnings. The Chief Minister said the scale of corruption was so alarming that suspension or dismissal alone would not be adequate punishment.
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“She had amassed wealth 400 times more than her known sources of income. We believe mere suspension or dismissal is not enough. She must face penal consequences through due legal process,” Sarma said while addressing a public programme in Baksa district.
Officials of the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell carried out extensive searches at Borah’s residences in Guwahati and Barpeta, recovering Rs 92.50 lakh in cash along with gold and diamond ornaments worth nearly Rs 1.5 crore.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance Cell) Rosie Kalita described the recovery as the largest cash seizure ever made by the cell.
Investigators also traced ownership of three flats in Guwahati linked to the officer, apart from other properties under scrutiny. Several individuals suspected of facilitating the deals are currently being questioned.
Sarma said that Borah had come under the scanner around six months ago, after allegedly authorising an illegal land transfer while serving in Barpeta district. Following the controversy, she was transferred to Goroimari in Kamrup, where surveillance against her continued.
The Chief Minister urged people to remain alert against corruption and report instances of bribery.
“I request citizens to be vigilant and immediately inform us if any official seeks illegal gratification,” he said.
Sarma reiterated his government’s commitment to fighting corruption, stressing that investigations against Borah and her associates would be pursued with complete transparency to uphold accountability within the administration.
Borah’s arrest has created ripples within the state bureaucracy, with many insiders admitting it was one of the biggest corruption scandals to have surfaced in recent years.
