An Assam Civil Service officer, Lachit Kumar Das, was arrested after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe. Raids at his residence led to the recovery of over Rs 1.65 crore in cash, Rs 80 lakh in FDs, and other incriminating documents.
The sleuths of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, on Friday night coducted raid at the residence of arrested Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer Lachit Kumar Das and recovered crores of rupees.
Officer Caught in Bribery Trap
According to officials, acting on a complaint regarding bribery demands linked to land-related clearances, a trap was laid on Thursday (May 21) by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Assam at the Directorate of Land Records, Rupnagar, in Guwahati.
The accused officer, identified as Lachit Kumar Das, Additional Director of Land Records, was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 45,000.
A senior official said the complaint had alleged that the officer had demanded Rs 1 lakh in exchange for issuing an NOC for land sale permission. "Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached this Directorate for taking necessary legal action against the public servant. Accordingly, a trap was laid on Thursday (May 21) by a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, in the Directorate of Land Records, Rupnagar, Guwahati," the official said.
"Lachit Kumar Das, ACS, Additional Director, Land Records, was caught red-handed in his office chamber, immediately after he accepted Rs 45,000 as part of the demanded bribe from the complainant. The tainted bribe money has been recovered from his possession and has been seized accordingly in the presence of independent witnesses," the official said.
Following his arrest, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case on May 21 under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). Officials said the officer was subsequently arrested after sufficient evidence was found in the case.
Searches Uncover Lakhs in Cash and Assets
Further searches conducted at his residence in Rani Bagan, Beltola area in Guwahati on May 21 led to the recovery and seizure of Rs 48.38 lakh in cash from a locker inside his house. Officials further said fixed deposit certificates worth Rs 80 lakh, registered in his name and those of his family members, were also seized.
In continued searches, officials on Thursday night conducted another raid at his residence and recovered more assets. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Vigilance & Anti-Corruption in Assam, Bedanta Madhab Rajkhowa said, "Yesterday, a little more than Rs 48 lakh was recovered, and today Rs 1 crore 17 lakh 30,000 cash and land papers were found in his other flat. Papers of 2 plots have also been recovered. His name is Lachit Kumar Das; he is an officer of the Assam Civil Service."
Officials said further legal proceedings and investigation in the case are currently underway. (ANI)
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