A senior state civil service officer serving as the additional director of land records in Assam was arrested on Thursday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 45,000. The officer, identified as Lachit Kumar Das, was caught red-handed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption wing of Assam Police during a sting operation.
Arrest and Raid
Following Das's arrest, anti-corruption sleuths conducted a raid at his residence in Guwahati. Officials revealed that a complaint had been lodged against Das, accusing him of demanding Rs 1 lakh from a landowner in exchange for issuing a no-objection certificate for land sale permission. Acting on the complaint, the vigilance team set a trap at the land records office.
Details of the Incident
During the operation, Das was apprehended after allegedly accepting Rs 45,000, which was part of the demanded bribe amount, from the complainant. The money was subsequently recovered from his possession. A case has been registered at the Anti-Corruption Branch Police Station under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018). Based on sufficient evidence, Das was taken into custody.
The arrest marks a significant step in the state's ongoing efforts to curb corruption within the civil services. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has urged citizens to report any instances of bribery or corruption to help maintain transparency and accountability in public administration.
