Khushi Doshi
Published on: April 20, 2022 at 15:20 IST
A Special Court in Assam filed charges against 67 people involved in the Cash-for-Jobs Fraud at the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). Rakesh Paul, the former chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, is among those who have been Accused.
Sudeep Das and Rajib Paul were proclaimed absconders by the Court, but Sailen Sarma Barua and Surajit Choudhury were exonerated due to a lack of Evidence.
Last week, the Assam Cabinet authorised the formation of a Committee to determine on the course of action to be taken in the wake of anomalies in the 2013 Combined Competitive Examination (CCE).
This comes after the Justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma Commission’s report earlier this month identified irregularities in the tests, which were held in May 2015 and the results were announced in May 2015.
The commission was established in accordance with the Orders of the Gauhati High Court. The commission’s conclusions are yet to be made public, but they are said to highlight inconsistencies in the answer sheets of applicants who were proclaimed successful reportedly in exchange for payment.
The Report will be given to a Committee that includes Jishnu Barua, the Chief Secretary. Within two months, the Committee will present its Report.
A Special Committee of investigation, chaired by a former High Court Judge, was also established by the Cabinet to investigate potential irregularities in Combined Competitive Examination 2014.
Candidates who passed the 2013 Combined Competitive Examination, including Assam Civil Service and Assam Police Service Personnel, were Accused of engaging in improper procedures in collusion with Rakesh Paul, and the Cash-for-Job Fraud was exposed in 2016.
Sixty serving Officers from the Combined Competitive Examination 2013 cohort have been detained, and 39 have had their Contracts revoked. Rakesh Paul, who was Arrested in 2016, is still in Prison, while the other Defendants have been released on Bail.