Crores of rupees in DFO’s house only ‘tip of the iceberg’, says Assam governor

“Corruption is the biggest challenge in the state today. That several crores of rupees have been recovered and seized from one DFO MC Talukdar in the past two days is only the tip of the iceberg,” governor Acharya told the media after an hour-long meeting with chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati.

Corrupt officers should be dealt with “mercilessly and ruthlessly” the governor said. “Such people should dealt with mercilessly and ruthlessly. There should be such action that others are taken by fear,” Acharya said.

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Meanwhile, a court in Guwahati on Wednesday sent arrested DFO MC Talukdar to 15 days’ judicial custody despite a prayer by the Anti Corruption branch of the Assam Police seeking 10 days; custody of the officer. “The court sent Taludar to 15 days judicial custody after the police failed to submit the case diary and statement of the accused,” Talukdar’s lawyer Bhaskar Dev Konwar said.

Talukdar, posted as DFO in Dhemaji for over two years now, was arrested on June 13 after police caught him red-handed while was allegedly taking bribes from three truck-owners. The police subsequently searched his office and official quarter in Dhemaji, and then his house in Guwahati, which led to recovery of over Rs 2 crore in cash, one tiger skin, one deer skin, some amount of ivory and about one kg of gold.