Assam agriculture scam: CID arrests five officials

A team of CID led by IGP Raunak Ali Hazarika arrested the five officials after found their involvement during interrogation them at the office of the investigating agency.

The arrested officials are Dr Birendranath Sarmah (the then Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer of Golaghat and now officiating District Agriculture Officer, Jorhat), Lakheswar Gum (the then Assistant Executive Engineer, Golaghat and now Assistant Executive Engineer, Gohpur, Sonitpur), Dilip Baruah (the then Executive Engineer, Nagaon and now Executive Engineer (WM) Khanapara, Guwahati), Rohit Bharali (Junior Engineer, Nagaon) and ranbir Kakati (Executive Engineer, Nagaon).

IGP Raunak Ali Hazarika said that, the five officials were arrested after their involvement in the multi crore scam was established.

“They were arrested during statewide raids conducted by CID. Investigation pointed to their involvement in anomalies relating to distribution of tractors, power tillers, other agricultural equipment among beneficiaries,” the top cops said.

CID has registered a case 56/14 under section 120(B)/420/406 of IPC and R/W section 13(1)(C)(2) of PC Act in the year 2014 during the previous Congress led state government.

Later, the arrested officials were produced before the Judicial Magistrate court in Kamrup (Metro) and the court sent them to three days judicial custody and asked to produce the officials before the Special Court on Feb 27.

Meanwhile a top source of CID said that, a former minister and several top Agriculture officials are also under the investigating agency scanner.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)