Assam: Former APSC Controller of Exams claims of having no access to strong room

The former Principal Controller of Examinations (PCE) of the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Babul Saharia claimed that he did not have access to the strong room.

While hearing the APSC cash-for-job scam at the Gauhati High Court, Babul Saharia said, “I was not given keys to the strong room. As per the rules, I should have had the keys.”

Recollecting his position at the office, Saharia further stated that he used to travel every day he used to travel back to his home in Goreswar, hence unaware of what happened inside the strong room at night.

Further, Saharia added that when he sensed about irregularities happening in connection to the examination, he informed the police immediately.

“The irregularities were led by the former chairperson of APSC Rakesh Pal,” he added.

Also Read: Assam: BJP MP Pabitra Margherita demands ‘national drink’ status for tea

Earlier on September 13, the former Principal Controller of Examinations (PCE) of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC), ACS Babul Saharia has been issued a notice by the committee probing into the massive recruitment scam case.

According to reports, the probing committee headed by retired Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma unveiled new facts in the APSC examination scam case that took place in 2014.

Saharia, who was the PCE from 2016 to 2018, has been informed that he has 15 days to appear before the panel.

In 2014, he had been in charge of both the result announcement and the basic tests.

The former PCE was also in charge of the strong room. Saharia is alleged to have remained silent despite being fully aware of the scam.

Earlier, Bharat Bhushan Dev Choudhury, a current APSC chairman and a former principal controller of examinations, had received a notice in the case.

When the scam occurred during CCE 2014, Choudhury—who was named APSC chairman on August 18—was the principal controller of examination (PCE).