Cash-for-job scam: Former Assam official gets 14-years jail

GUWAHATI: A special court sentenced Monday former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman Rakesh Paul to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in a cash-for-job scam related to the employment of agricultural development officers in Assam government a decade ago. Having already served five-and-a-half years during the trial, Paul has eight-and-a-half years remaining in jail.

Two other former APSC members - Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman - received 10-year prison sentences. Also, 29 candidates found guilty of paying bribes for the jobs were each sentenced to four years. Under the chairmanship of Paul, the commission selected 80 candidates. An unsuccessful candidate Bedanta Bikash Das questioned the selection process and filed an FIR in 2017.

The exam was held in 2014. Das passed the screening test and appeared in the viva in 2015, but did not succeed. He alleged Paul and his associate Mosaraf Hussein had sought a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from him. This led to an investigation and a trial.

On July 22 this year, special judge Dipak Thakuria found Paul, Rahman, Doley, and the 29 candidates guilty. The quantum of their punishment was declared Monday. Paul received seven-year sentences for each of two sections of IPC and a section of Prevention of Corruption Act, apart from 10 years for another section of anti-corruption law.

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