Himanta Sets Up SIT to Probe Cash for Job Scam in Assam Public Service Commission

Guwahati: The Assam government here on Saturday said that they have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-job scam.

Informing that the Gauhati High Court was informed about the development by the Additional Attorney General for Assam, Nalin Kohli on Friday, state government sources said that hihgh court is alsdo apprised that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had ordered the SIT to be established.

Pointing out that the ADGP Mr Munna Prasad Gupta IPS would  be the chairman of the SIT, sources said that the other members of SIT are Guwahati Joint Commissioner of Police Thube Prateek Vijay Kumar, two officers of the DSP rank, and two inspectors.

However Mr Surjeet Singh Panesar, an APS officer who was in charge of the investigation, is no longer a member of the SIT.

The SIT has been instructed by the Gauhati High Court to submit a thorough report on the situation within the allotted six-month time period.

A committee was established by the Assam government in May 2022 to determine what should be done in response to the inquiry report on the 2013 state civil service examinations that was submitted by Justice (Retired) Biplab Kr Sarma commission.

The Commission, which was established in accordance with the Gauhati High Court's instructions, turned up its findings on the irregularities in the civil service examinations conducted.

Although the report has not been made public, it is said that the commission's conclusions describe inconsistencies in several candidates' answer sheets who were proclaimed successful, purportedly in place of money.

The five-member panel was established by the state government to review the inquiry commission's report on irregularities in the examination.

Several successful candidates, including Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS) personnel who appeared in the 2013 examination, were alleged to have been involved in conspiracy with then APSC chairman Rakesh Paul, which led to the discovery of the cash-for-job scam in 2016. Mr Paul, who was arrested in 2016, along with others, is currently out on bail.