APSC job scam accused gets bail

GUWAHATI: A special court here on Tuesday granted bail to Rakesh Gupta, an accused in the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) cash-for-job scam. An Assam Police Service (APS) official, Gupta, had allegedly paid cash to secure his job in the state police.
Gupta had surrendered before a special court in April after remaining absconding for over two years. Gupta's handwriting test also allegedly mismatched with the answer scripts of his selection test.
Advocate Ziaur Kamar, the counsel of the accused, said, "The court has granted him bail against a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh. The court granted the bail as there was no need for further detention of the accused."
Gupta has already undergone questioning by the Dibrugarh Police which interrogated him in the presence of the prime accused and suspended APSC chairperson Rakesh Paul and others. The court, however, restricted Gupta's movement outside the state and directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
Assam Police sources said the investigation into the case is in the final phase.
On the other hand, the Gauhati high court on Wednesday will take up the CBI's prayer seeking the court's permission to file an FIR against Rakesh Paul. A preliminary probe conducted by the CBI found that Paul has acquired assets worth millions.
Paul was arrested in November, 2016 after a job aspirant lodged a complaint against the cash-for-job scam in the APSC. At least 74 people have been arrested in connection with the case.