CBI has found that Rakesh Paul, the kingpin of Assam Public Service Commission’s multi-crore cash-for-job scam, owns prime properties of more than Rs 150 crore in different places in India.
The investigating agency, which is probing the cash-for-job scam, has found that Paul brought 22 properties worth more than Rs 150 crores. Paul was arrested on November 4, 2016.
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Paul, a brief-less lawyer from Tura in West Garo hills district of Meghalaya, was apparently close to former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. With Congress’s political patronage, he took over as the chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
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It was reported that Rakesh Paul used to take Rs 20 to 35 lakh for each job, and from the investigation, it has been confirmed that he has taken money from more than 300 people, and most of them are now working in various departments.
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The CBI, in its inquiry report submitted about 48 hours ago in the court said Paul owned prime properties, including flats, bungalows and residential in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tura and few other cities in India.
All the prime properties were bought by Paul after taking over as the chairman of APSC. Some of the properties were also registered in the name of his close relatives.
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The CBI also enclosed a list of properties owned in the names of his wife Sunanda Paul and his younger brother Rajib Paul.
The investigating agency is also exploring the possibilities of involvement of some more relatives of Rakesh Paul in the cash-for-job scam in Assam.
In addition to the prime properties, CBI officials are of the opinion that Paul must have stacked a large amount of cash, which he had amassed by “selling” the jobs, with some of his close associates or relatives.
The CBI will now seek permission from the Gauhati High Court to register an FIR against Paul to further investigate the matter.
The CBI is keen to interrogate Rakesh Paul’s wife Sunanda and brother Rajib to unearth more details about the cash-for-job case.