Guwahati: An Assam Forest Service officer who topped the Assam Public Service Commission examination in the forest service category was arrested in Lakhimpur district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000, officials said on Saturday.
Sibasish Sandilya, posted as forest range officer in Lakhimpur, was caught taking money from a truck owner at his official residence on Friday. Sandilya had secured the top rank in the Assam Public Service Commission results for recruitment to the post of Forest Rangers in the Assam Forest Service, heading the list of 50 candidates recommended to the government for appointment in order of merit.
Vigilance operation catches officer red-handed
The state directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption said in a social media post, “Today #DIR_VAC_ASSAM trapped red-handed Sibasish Sandilya, AFS, Forest Ranger, Lakhimpur Range, immediately after he accepted Rs 12,000 as bribe from the complainant in his official quarter for hassle-free movement of dumpers.” Police brought Sandilya to Guwahati on Friday night for further investigation. He was arrested after around five hours of interrogation, and more than Rs 5 lakh in cash was reportedly recovered.
Complainant alleges harassment and threats
A truck owner who said he filed the complaint alleged he was repeatedly threatened and asked to pay bribes. “He (Sandilya) told me to pay Rs 12,000 and was nabbed red-handed while going to pay as planned,” he said, adding that vigilance and anti-corruption officials laid a trap to catch the officer. The complainant alleged his dumpers were not allowed to operate smoothly because he did not pay regularly. “I was harassed for not paying the bribe and thus first I approached the local MLA and then police,” he said. He also claimed bribes were demanded mainly in challan-related cases. “Even if one minute exceeds the time of challan period, we had to pay a bribe,” said another complainant.
Multiple corruption complaints surface after arrest
After the arrest, more complaints surfaced alleging corruption in Lakhimpur, with forest officials at multiple levels accused of demanding money. One complaint alleged dumper operators were harassed even when they had valid challans. Several dumper owners have spoken to the media, with one alleging they were forced to pay bribes ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 every month to different forest officials in Lakhimpur to keep their dumper business running.
