CBI COURT SENTENCES FIVE ACCUSED INCLUDING THEN MANAGER OF DUCK BREEDING FARM, PHURONI; UPPER DIVISION ASSISTANT (UDA) OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & VETERINARY DEPT AND 03 PRIVATE PERSONS TO IMPRISONMENT OF UPTO 3 YEARS WITH TOTAL FINE OF Rs 1.6 LAKH IN A CASE RELATED TO FRAUDULENT WITHDRAWAL OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS

Face2News/Guwahati

The Special Judge for CBI cases, Guwahati has sentenced five accused including Shri M. Rahman, then Manager of Duck Breeding farm, Phuroni (Assam); Shri B.N. Chakraborty then Upper Division Assistant (UDA), Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Dept. and private persons namely Shri Jayanta Sharma; Shri T.K. Das & Shri Pranab Saikia, to imprisonment of upto three years with total fine of Rs.1.6 lakh in a case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Government Funds.

Accused Shri M. Rahman was sentenced to 02 years’ Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 35,000/-; Shri B.N. Chakraborty was sentenced to 03 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 25,000/-; Shri Jayanta Sharma was sentenced to 03 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 40,000/-; Shri T.K. Das was sentenced to 03 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/- and Shri Pranab Saikia was sentenced to 1.5 years’ Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 10,000/-.

CBI had re-registered the instant case on 17/05/1994 taking over FIR No. 4/93 dated 23.07.1993 of PS-ACB (Assam), Kamrup District against accused including those convicted. It was alleged that accused Dr. T. Buragohain, then Addl. Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department (Hills), Haflong (Assam) was entrusted by the Government as Head of Department for implementation of development of hill areas of Assam, authorizing him to effect purchase of instruments, appliances, machines/tools, plants, etc. and other stores including live stock when the purchase is made through Central Stores Department or through a duly constituted Purchase Board.

Taking advantage of this, Dr. T, Buragohain allegedly entered a criminal conspiracy with S/Shri Hrangkhol, F&AO; Shri Hafiz Ali, Head Assistant; Shri B. N. Chakraborty, Upper Divisional Assistant (UDA), o/o the Addl. Director, A.H. & Vety Deptt. (Hills), Haflong and Shri Dandi Sonowal, Treasury Officer, Haflong and other public servants and private persons and prepared/passed some fictitious bills amounting to Rs.1,74,86,827/- and drew from the treasury in excess, in the year 1991-92 by abusing their official position as public servants. Accused knew fully well that there was no such justification for drawl of the alleged amount, in question and thereby they defrauded the Government.

After completion of investigation, charge-sheet was filed by CBI on 13.05.1994 against the accused including those convicted by the Court. Some accused including Dr. T. Buragohain died during the trial.

The Court, after completion of trial, held the aforesaid five accused (two public servants and three private persons) guilty and sentenced them accordingly.