Himanta accuses Gaurav Gogoi of accepting gold from APSC scam accused Rakesh Paul

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 3, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday reignited the political firestorm, alleging that Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi received gold ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh from disgraced former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul—the mastermind of the infamous cash-for-jobs scam—as a wedding gift in 2013.

Speaking in the Assam Assembly during a discussion led by BJP MLA Manab Deka, Sarma laid bare how deep-rooted corruption plagued the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) under Congress rule, tracing it back to former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s tenure.

Sarma asserted that Paul’s rise to power in APSC was not based on merit, but a direct political favor by the Congress government. He revealed in 2008, Rakesh Paul personally applied to Tarun Gogoi for an APSC post. Gogoi merely marked the file “May be considered”, leading to Paul’s appointment within 24 days, without any vetting of his credentials.

“In 2013, despite allegations of rampant corruption, Tarun Gogoi pushed for Paul’s promotion to chairman, extending his tenure for five more years in a record two days,” he said.

“Under Paul’s leadership, the APSC turned into a marketplace for government jobs, where money mattered more than merit,” Sarma said.

Sarma further accused Congress of using weddings as a front for corruption, pointing out that Gaurav Gogoi has yet to deny the allegations of receiving gold from Rakesh Paul, even after the Justice Biplab Sharma Commission exposed the scandal 20 days ago.

“If he didn’t take the gold, why hasn’t he denied it? Why are Congress leaders scrambling to defend him?” Sarma questioned, calling on Gogoi to clarify his position.

He also exposed a pattern of favouritism in APSC recruitments under Congress, revealing that at least six to seven ministers’ children secured government jobs through manipulated selection processes. Contrasting this with the BJP-led administration, he stated:

“Today, government jobs are secured on merit. At APSC appointment ceremonies, you won’t find the children of ministers anymore.”

Hailing former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for launching the probe, Sarma credited the BJP-led government for bringing Rakesh Paul and his associates to justice. He listed the arrests of Rakesh Paul (APSC chairman), Pabitra Kaibarta, Basanta Doley, Abbas Ali Ahmed, Syed Musharaf Hussain, Babul Ali Choudhury, and Samedur Rahman.

“For the first time in India, a sitting PSC chairman and his entire team were jailed for corruption. It was a historic step to cleanse the system,” Sarma declared.

Calling the APSC scam the biggest betrayal of Assam’s youth, Sarma demanded a public apology from Congress, insisting that the party must accept its guilt before seeking power again.

“We have ensured transparency in government job recruitment, from APSC to Grade IV positions. Assam’s future will not be sold for money and political favours ever again,” he assured.

The Chief Minister also thanked Justice (Retd.) Biplab Sharma for exposing the scam and reaffirming the government’s commitment to punishing those who secured jobs through fraudulent means.

“There are still some officials against whom we could not take action, as they would have secured APSC jobs even without resorting to unfair means,” he added.