Guwahati: The Fight Against Injustice of APSC—a forum spearheading a campaign against anomalies in the 2013 Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)—has petitioned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expand its probe into the massive cash-for-job scandal.
In a detailed letter submitted to Additional DGP (CID) Munna Prasad Gupta, who heads the SIT, the forum led by Manash Pratim Baruah alleged that despite the findings of the Justice (Retd.) B.K. Sharma Inquiry Commission, several “beneficiaries and perpetrators” continue to hold high-ranking administrative posts while remaining outside the ambit of the investigation.
Officers Allegedly Evading Investigation
The petition highlights that while many individuals were charge-sheeted, several officers with “dubious” backgrounds are still in service. The forum specifically named Mitali Lahkar (ACS) and Nayanmoni Barman (APS) as being part of the “missing answer scripts” controversy.
Other officials mentioned as remaining outside the purview of the investigation include Abhijnan Nath (Assistant Employment Officer), Mukul Chetia (Inspector of Excise), Sneha Deka (Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies), Minerva Devi Arambam (ACS), and Birbal Brahma (Inspector of Taxes).
The “Family & Spouse” Pattern
A significant portion of the complaint focuses on siblings and spouses who were both selected in the same examinations. The forum notes that in several cases, one partner has been arrested or suspended, while the other remains “scot-free.”
These pairs include Nabanita Sharma and Priyanku Jyoti Sharma, Mitali Lahkar and Dipankar Dutta Lahkar, Aseema Kalita and Moonmi Kalita, Arun Kr. Borah and Nirmali Borah, Raj Baruah and Biraj Baruah, Anita Hazarika and Mridul Hazarika, Nitumoni Das and Niranjana Chaliha, Hrituraj Gogoi and Anita Konwar, and Rashmi Rekha Devi and Kankan Sharma. The forum pointed out that while Nabanita Sharma, Dipankar Dutta Lahkar, Aseema Kalita, Mridul Hazarika, Nitumoni Das, and Hrituraj Gogoi are already accused, their respective relatives remain uninvestigated.
Allegations of High-Level Nepotism
The forum raised serious questions regarding the selection of Minerva Devi Arambam (ACS), daughter of the accused then-Principal Controller of Examinations, Nanda Babu Singha, and Ajit Kalita (ACS), son-in-law of accused Assistant Controller Pabitra Kaibarta. Allegations suggest Arambam may have had prior access to question papers through a close associate, Sushmita Pegu, who resided in the same house during the exam period.
The “Loose Tabulation Sheets” and Recovered Scripts
The complaint demands a thorough scrutiny of names found on nine loose tabulation sheets seized from the residence of former APSC Chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul.
ACS candidates named by the forum as appearing on these sheets include Tridib Roy, Akashee Duwarah, Bikramaditya Bora, Dhrubajyoti Hatibaruah, Dhiraj Kr. Jain, Dipan Barman, Saptati Endow, and Mrinal Bora. APS officers listed include Nabanita Sharma, Kalyan Kr. Das, Faruk Ahmed, Nitumoni Das, Dipankar Dutta Lahkar, Nilanjal Gogoi, Rumir Timungpi, Pushkal Gogoi, Kula Pradip Bhattacharya, Sukanya Das, Bhaskar Ojah, and Hemen Das. From the allied services, the forum named Jayanta Doley, Bikash Sarma, Sourav Pran Sharma, Borkiri Terang, and Arun Kr. Bora (DTO).
Links to Other Criminal Activities
The whistleblower group argued that officers selected through corrupt means continue to damage the system. They cited the recent legal troubles of Pushkal Gogoi in the Bajali extortion case, Bhaskar Ojha regarding bribe allegations, Bikramaditya Bora in the Village Headman appointment scam, Arun Kr. Bora for Motor Vehicles Act irregularities, and Manzoor Elahi Borbhuyan in the coal scam.
The forum also called for a probe into Gopal Ch. Bora, a contractor from whose house blank answer scripts were recovered, alleging he is a front for scam-tainted former APSC chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul and could help locate Paul’s absconding brother, Rajiv Paul.