Assam: Tourism Dept Scam Breaks Open—Top Officials Arrested Over Fake Appointments

In a major breakthrough in the long-pending Tourism Department recruitment scam, the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell on Tuesday night arrested Ananya Borthakur and Pranjal Bora, both accused of illegally securing government jobs through fraudulent means.

According to officials, the corruption dates back to 2010–2012, during the tenure of then Tourism Minister Rakibul Hussain, a senior Congress leader and the current Dhubri MP, who was reportedly overseeing the recruitment process at the time.

Investigators found that several appointments were made in violation of established norms, with some recruits lacking the mandatory educational qualifications required for the posts. As part of the probe, the Vigilance Cell had also questioned Monalisa Goswami, the then Director of the Tourism Department, earlier in July this year.

The other officials already under scrutiny include Hiran Kumar Saikia, Saymeen Mannan, Mehzabin Begum, Gautam Gogoi, Madhab Das, and Nayanmoni Pamegam—all of whom had earlier been placed under suspension.

Borthakur was serving in Delhi, while Bora was posted in Nagaon at the time of the inquiry.

The CM Vigilance Cell had registered a case under Sections 13/25, after which multiple rounds of questioning were carried out. Tuesday’s arrests followed confirmation of procedural manipulation and misuse of authority in the recruitment process.

Both arrested officers were brought to Guwahati, where their medical examinations were completed. They will be produced before the court today, with the Vigilance Cell expected to seek their custody for further interrogation.

How the Investigation Began

The ongoing probe was initiated in February this year, when the Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Cell launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Tourism Department’s recruitments dating back to 2010–11. The inquiry began after a state government employee filed a formal complaint.

A five- to six-member team from the CM Vigilance Cell conducted a raid at the department’s B Agar office, seizing old recruitment files for examination.

Sources revealed that the investigation centres around the illegal appointment of more than 10 employees during the tenure of the then Congress-led government.

The recruitment scam has also been under judicial scrutiny, with the Gauhati High Court confirming serious irregularities in the hiring process. Following the court’s directive, all affected candidates have been asked to submit their qualification documents to the Chief Minister’s Supervision Cell for verification as part of the continuing investigation.

Also Read: Assam Congress Sounds Red Alert on Special Revision, Points to Possible Voter Cuts