GUWAHATI, April 11 - The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified four plots of land measuring over 1.5 bighas that were acquired by Rakesh Kumar Paul, the prime accused in the cash-for-job scam in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
The identified properties, which came to the notice of the EC recently, would be attached soon, according to top sources in the Directorate.
Sources in the ED told The Assam Tribune that the properties were acquired by Paul against payment of huge sums of money after he became a member, and subsequently the chairman of the APSC.
Details made available to The Assam Tribune reflected that Paul had purchased all the four properties in Guwahati � two plots in Panikhaiti measuring 3.5 kathas each, two kathas in Japorigog (Dag no.747) and another two kathas in Ulubari (Dag no.312).
Investigators divulged that the ownership of all the four plots either lie with Paul himself or his wife Sunanda Paul. �The aggregate value of the properties would run into several crores,� the sources informed. �There are a few formalities that need to be followed after which the attachment process will begin,� the sources said.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating another case against Paul, has traced the link of a former casual employee of Kolkata�s Assam House in the cash-for-job scam.
This person, who has amassed property worth several crores of rupees during a short period of time, is currently on the run.
�The person, we believe, was one of the points of contact for many (APSC) candidates in Kolkata. Once he is questioned, many more new aspects would come to light. We are on the lookout for him. Chances are that a number of dealings took place in the Assam House itself,� the sources said.
Meanwhile, another suspended Assam Police Service (APS) official, Rakesh Gupta, who was declared an absconder by the Court of Special Judge, Assam, today surrendered before the court.
Surjeet Singh Panesar, investigating officer of the Dibrugarh Police Station, informed that Gupta�s bail petition was rejected after which he was sent to judicial custody.
