GUWAHATI, Sept 18 � Days after his house was raided by the CBI in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit-fund scam, former Director General of Assam Police Shankar Barua committed suicide by shooting himself with his .32 revolver on September 17 noon at his Barowari residence.
Doctors at a private hospital declared him brought dead, a senior Assam Police official said on Wednesday.
Barua, whose house was searched by the CBI on August 28, was the DGP of Assam Police from July 2009 to January 2012.
The former DGP was not keeping well and was even admitted to hospital twice in the span of a fortnight after he was quizzed by the central investigation agency. It is rumoured that Barua had changed the nominee of his assets, although it is yet to be confirmed by the police.
According to the post-mortem report, Barua died instantly. The shot was fired from a �very close range� and there was no contact between the weapon and his head. The bullet went through his brain from right to left. The deformed bullet was found very near the left part of his skull.
The CBI had conducted searches in 11 different locations in Guwahati on August 22, including the house of the former DGP, two former Ministers and sitting MLAs in Himanta Biswa Sarma and Anjan Dutta, and singer Sadananda Gogoi.
Search was also carried out in private satellite channel News Live, which is owned by the wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Sadananda Gogoi, who is believed to have played the role of a facilitator and linkman between the Saradha group and other influential individuals of the State, was later arrested by the CBI and is still in its custody. His remand was extended till September 20 by a Kolkata court.
Barua�s body was taken to the 4th APBn campus for the ceremonial salute, where top officials of the civil and police administrations offered their last respects.
A 1974 batch IPS officer, Barua leaves behind his mother, wife, two sons and a host of relatives. His last rites were performed at the Navagraha cremation ground last evening.
Meanwhile, the CBI, on its website has clarified that the former DGP was not examined and no summon had been issued to him. The agency termed the incident as unfortunate.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta have also condoled Barua�s death.
