Assam asks CBI to probe salary scam

Guwahati, Mar 24: The CBI has been approached by the Assam government to probe the salary scam in the 10th Assam Police Battalion, with the interim report on the scam, investigated between 2001-02 to 2002-03, finding misappropriation of over Rs 15 crore.

The interim report submitted by DIG Rohini Kumar Bania said total of Rs 15,85,92,732 was found to have been drawn fraudulently in the 10th AP Bn, Kahilipara, during 2001-02 and 2002-03, Cabinet minister Rockybul Hussain informed the Assembly today. He was replying to a question of Opposition AGP legislator Phani Bhusan Choudhury.

As many as 14 officials of 10th AP Bn, including two IPS and two APS officers, were suspected to be involved in the scam, which first surfaced in 2006. The commandants of the battalion during the period were also indicted in the interim report.

The CID is already conducting investigations to unearth the entire scam, with the government also writing to the CBI to take up the case, Mr Hussain informed.

The money was siphoned against excess withdrawal of salaries and vacant posts. Besides the police department officials, treasury department officials were indicated, the interim report had stated.

The minister said the salary scam was suspected to have started from 2001 as per reports with the government and the latter was initiating steps for thorough probe.

Besides the 10th AP Bn based in Kahilipar, Guwahati, similar salary scam was detected in the Titabor-headquartered 3rd AP Bn, with the entire scam running into hundreds of crore of rupees and several big names of the state police department likely to be involved.

UNI