APSC Scam: SIT interrogates additional officer; further summons anticipated

Guwahati:  The Assam Public Service Commission scam is hitting the headlines once again. The cash for job scam that jolted the State in 2015-16, is now in news again as many officers who made it through the prestigious APSC exams through illegal means are being questioned. 

The recent batch of 37 officers in Assam Civil Services and Assam Police Services from the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 are those who made it through the APSC with the help of the then tainted Chairman Rakesh Paul, who manipulated the tabulation sheets. 

One among them, who was summoned on Monday by the SIT constituted by the Assam Police is Rumi Timungpi. Timungpi, who had also served in the NIA, was now at the Assam Police Headquarters. However, recently along with 37 others, Timungpi who is a 2013 Assam Police Service, has been put under suspension. 

What has shocked everyone is a fact that during investigation SIT has found that Rumi Timungpi failed in the Mains exam of the APSC. But, with the help of then Chairman of APSC, Rakesh Paul, she increased a total of 200 marks, with 50 marks in each four paper of the APSC mains. A source in SIT has informed that in exchange of a huge amount of money, Rumi Timungpi's family bought the job through APSC. "Rumi Timungpi got 578 marks in the mains exam. The cutoff mark for ST (Hills) was 631. Rakesh Paul increased 200 marks to accommodate 53 marks required by Rumi Timungpi to clear the exam," said an officer who is part of the SIT. 

The details of the marks increased has also been accessed by Republic Digital. In the four papers where marks have been increased are as- in English she got 125, but in the tabulation sheet it was increased to 175, in the Political Science Paper I, she secured 61, but same was made 111 in the tabulation sheet. Similarly, in Political Science Paper II she secured 77 marks and the same was made 127 in the tabulation sheets, whereas in the Sociology Paper I, again 50 marks were increased to make it 135 in the tabulation sheet against the original mark of 85 obtained by Timungpi. 

It may be mentioned that Rumi Timungpi's father is a influential politician of Karbi Anglong, for which despite serious allegation of misconduct committed in the selection process, levelled by the Jusitice BK Sarma Commission, she was promoted to higher ranks. 

Meanwhile, SIT sources have informed that many more will be summoned in the coming days and after interrogation, following the due process, they might be arrested.