HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 2: In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Assam, has apprehended three government officials involved in bribery schemes, according to an official statement.
The accused officials were identified as Rani Borah, Dapendra Nath Brahma and Naba Krishna Roy. Borah served as the accountant at the office of the district agricultural officer in Assam’s Jorhat district, while Roy held the position of block elementary education officer in Dhubri’s Golakanj and had demanded Rs 3000 as a bribe.
“A complaint was received at the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption, Assam, alleging that Rani Borah, the accountant at the office of the district agricultural officer, Jorhat, had demanded 10 per cent of Rs 37,000 as a bribe from the complainant for processing of travelling allowance,” the statement read.
It further claimed that upon refusal to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Directorate to take necessary legal action against the above-mentioned public servant.
“Accordingly, a trap was laid today, on 02/04/2024 by a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, in the office of the district agricultural officer, Jorhat. Borah was caught red-handed in the office immediately after accepting Rs 6,000 as part of the demanded bribe from the complainant,” it added.
Meanwhile, Roy was accused of conspiring with Dapendra Nath Brahma, senior assistant of the same office, who had demanded Rs 3000 as a bribe from the complainant for updating his service book. Later, the bribe amount was reduced to Rs 2,500 by the accused persons.
“Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Directorate for taking necessary legal action against the above-mentioned public servants. Accordingly, a trap was laid on Tuesday by a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, in the office of the block elementary education officer, in Dhubri’s Golakganj. Dapendra Nath Brahma, senior assistant was caught red-handed in the office immediately after accepting Rs 2,000 as part of the demanded bribe from the complainant in conspiracy with Roy,” the statement claimed.
In connection with this, a case has been registered at the ACB police station against the trio, and necessary legal follow-up action is underway.
