Guwahati: The Guwahati High Court on Monday convicted prime accused Rakesh Paul and 32 others in the infamous APSC (Assam Public Service Commission) Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) recruitment scam.
The scam involved irregularities in the selection process for ADO positions advertised in 2013.
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The ADO recruitment scam is believed to be part of the wider APSC cash-for-job scandal, where candidates across various positions allegedly bribed officials for undeserved selection.
Rakesh Paul, the then APSC chairman, was a central figure in the overall scam, and the ADO recruitment irregularities likely occurred under his watch.
The APSC scam, exposed in 2015-16, involved allegations of candidates bribing officials to secure government positions through manipulated exams
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This verdict comes after years of investigation and legal proceedings. While 34 individuals have been found guilty, 11 others were acquitted by the court.
The full details of the sentencing and the impact on the convicted individuals are awaited.
There were a total of 44 accused in the APSC cash-for-job scam, out of which four were members of the commission, one APSC employee, three middleman, and 36 candidates.
Of the total accused, eleven were acquitted by the court.
The acquitted persons include: Vikash Pincha (middleman), Kunal Das (middleman), Kaushik Kalita (middleman), Syed Musharraf Hussain (APSC employee), Beauty Gogoi (candidate), Phiruj Moran (candidate), Jyotiban Dutta (candidate), Saijali (candidate), Dhritiman Roy (candidate), Mousumi Saikia (candidate) and Boichitra Hakmaosa (candidate).
On the other hand, those convicted are: Rakesh Kr Paul, Basanta Kr Doley and Samedur Rahman.
Moreover, 29 candidates have also been convicted by the court in the case.
Meanwhile, Binata Rynjha was declared approver.
According to reports, Rakesh Paul, Samedur Rahman and Basanta Kr Doley have been convicted u/s 420 read with 120 b IPC (7 years), u/s 468 read with 120 B (7 years), u/s 7 PC Act read with sec 120 B (7 years), u/s 13 (2) PC Act, 1988 read with sec 120B IPC (10 years).
The other accused candidates have been convicted u/s 420 read with 120 b IPC (7 years) and u/s 468 read with 120 B (7 years).