APSC cash for job scam: Prime accused Rakesh Paul and 34 others convicted

Rakesh Paul, former Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) chairman and 34 others have been convicted in the APSC cash-for-job scam.

Paul who is the prime accused in the case has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, while 10 accused have been acquitted.

The scam first came to light in 2015-2016, exposing that candidates allegedly paid bribes to secure positions in the combined competitive exams in 2013 and 2014.

After examination of the handwriting samples, it was found that their answer sheets were replaced by duplicate answer sheets at the behest of the then APSC chairman Rakesh Paul, the kingpin of the massive scam.

The tainted former APSC chairman had supplied answer scripts to rewrite their examination.

Rakesh Paul was arrested in 2016 on several charges of corruption relating to fraudulent hirings in APSC but was given bail in 2023.

In the scam, about 70 persons and over 50 civil and police services officials, have been arrested.

The APS and ACS officers who were appointed to their posts in 2016 include 13 ACS officers, 3 APS officers, 1 DTO, 1 tax superintendent and 1 tax inspector.