Arrested APSC chief sent to 14-day police custody

Assam Public Service Commission Chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul, who was arrested on charges of corruption in the organisation, was today remanded in 14 days police custody by a special court.
Police had sought 14-day custody of Paul.
The special judge also directed that Paul be provided food, medical care and medicines.
Slogan shouting members of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), which has been agitating against the alleged corruption in APSC along with many civil society organisations, demonstrated in front of the court.
The Lawyers Association here and KMSS also submitted petitions to the court that Paul should not be granted bail under any circumstances.

(Reopens LGC1)

The Lawyers association and KMSS leaders claimed
before waiting journalists that enquiry should be made as to how Paul, a Notary, was appointed to the high post of the APSC's Chairman.
According to Investigating Officer - Dibrugarh district Additional Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Paneshar - on October 27 Dibrugarh Town Planning engineer Naba Kanta Patir was arrested based on a complaint filed by a dental surgeon he had promised to be given a job through the APSC for a bribe of Rs ten lakh.
Based on Patir's statement during interrogation, personal security officer Mabud Ali Choudhury of APSC Member Samedur Rehman was arrested the next day, Paneshar said.

Interrogation of Patir and Rehman and phone conversations about money transactions between Patir and the APSC Chairman allegedly indicated evidences about a big racket, the police official said.
Paul was picked up from his office around 5 pm yesterday and taken to the 4th Assam Police Battalion (APBN) at Kahilipara here for interrogation prior to his arrest, the Additional SP said.
Paul was arrested under various sections of IPC for APSC related corruption issues, Paneshar said.
APSC has been mired in controversies with allegations of corruption in selection and appointment of Assam Civil Service (ACS), Assam Police Sercive (APS), Education Service, allied services and all gazetted posts for exchange of hefty amounts of money.

Various organisations, including Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and the influencial All Assam Students' Union, have been attacking Paul.
Under pressure of the opposition and a section of Congress colleagues, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in July last year had set up of an inquiry commission headed by a retired judge to probe the alleged irregularities in state civil services examinations and recruitment.
A month before that, the Assam government had ordered a probe by an Additional Chief Secretary into the alleged irregularities in results of civil services examinations after receiving five specific complaints from examinees.
The opposition-turned-ruling alliance, comprising BJP, AGP and BPF, has been under pressure to take strict action against Paul and clean up the APSC since it assumed office in May this year.