APSC Cash-for-Jobs Scandal: Rakesh Paul Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

Former Assam Public Service Commission chairman Rakesh Paul has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a special court in connection with a cash-for-jobs scandal related to the recruitment of agricultural development officers. Two other former APSC members, Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman, were also sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Former Assam Public Service Commission chairman Rakesh Paul was on Monday sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment by a special court in connection with a cash-for-jobs case related to the recruitment of agricultural development officers in the state.

Two other former APSC members, Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman, were awarded 10 years of imprisonment, while 29 others will serve jail sentences of four years, Special Judge Dipankar Thakuria said in his order. Paul and the two former members were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of seven years for cheating, another seven years for forgery, and 10 years under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Paul, along with Doley and Rahman, and other officials, were convicted for tampering with marks of candidates who had appeared in the ADO recruitment examination.

An aspirant, who had failed to qualify for the test, registered a complaint, alleging that marks of another candidate had been increased in exchange for financial transactions.

(With inputs from agencies.)