Assam: Gautam Baruah sent to 10-day custody in Rs 121-cr fund scam

Tinsukia: A special court in Guwahati granted 10-day police custody of the prime accused arrested in the case related to misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 121 crore of the Assam Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Guwahati (ABOCWWB) on Monday.

Gautam Baruah, who was hiding at a rented accommodation in New Delhi, was arrested by sleuths of the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption branch, Assam, on Monday. He held the position of officiating chairman of the welfare board in Guwahati from 2011 to 2017.

Speaking with EastMojo, directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption ADGP Anurag Tankha said that the accused was produced before a special court in Guwahati and had been remanded to ten-day police custody for further examination.

“During investigation, it has been established that there was a criminal conspiracy by IAS officer Chohan Doley — the then Member Secretary of ABOCWWB, Gautam Baruah — the then chairman of ABOCWWB, Nagendra Nath Choudhury — the then administrative officer of ABOCWWB, and Priyangshu Boiragi — proprietor of M/S. Purbashree Printing House,” said Tankha, adding that the accused Doley, Choudhury and Boiragi were arrested in 2017.

“However, the prime accused was absconding and a team of ACB camping in Delhi for five days finally succeeded in arresting him.”

“The criminal conspiracy resulted in misappropriation of the funds of more than Rs 121 crore from the fund accumulated through the collection of cess of the ABOCWWB in the bank account,” he added.

Tankha appealed the citizens to come forward and share information of corruptions with senior officers of the directorate. “Citizens can reach at 0361-2462294, 0361-2462295, 8468832675, 9854032882, 18003453767 (toll free) to share information and lodge complaints,” Tankha told this correspondent.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by IAS officer Tapan Sarma, the then labour commissioner cum member secretary of Assam Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Guwahati.

In his complaint, he stated, about the forgery and large scale misappropriation of board funds by his predecessor member secretary and chairman, a source in ACB said, adding, a detailed investigation was pressed and all accused have been arrested.