GUWAHATI: The BJP-led Assam government headed by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has decided to move the Governor of Assam with a proposal for removal of the chairman of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), Rakesh Paul who was arrested by Assam police on November 4 last for allegedly running a cash-for-job racket in the APSC.
Police have also arrested another APSC member Samedur Rahman on Wednesday in connection with the same case.
A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday night in the State Guest House here discussed in detail the issue of the arrest of Paul and another member Samedur Rahman by Assam Police in connection with an alleged cash-for-job racket as well as the controversy shrouding the APSC, decided to move the state Governor for suspension of the “disgraced” APSC chairman, an official communiqué issued here on Wednesday afternoon said.
The alleged job racket thriving in the APSC has been hogging the headlines for the past two weeks since the police first arrested an assistant engineer of a government department on October 27 last after he had been caught red-handed receiving a bribe of Rs 10 lakh allegedly on behalf of chairman Paul from an aspirant of a dentist surgeon job, Angshumita Gogoi who had tipped off the police. Three days later the police arrested a PSO of APSC member Samedur Rahman and subsequently the chairman Paul was arrested on November 4 last.
While Chairman Paul was sent to 14 days’ police custody on November 5 while Samedur Rahman too was remanded to 14 days’ police custody by a special court here on Wednesday.
All the incumbent six members of the APSC were appointed by the previous Congress government in the state headed by Tarun Gogoi.
