GUWAHATI: A former Project Director of the Assam Fishery Development Corporation Ltd. (AFDCL) was arrested in Odisha on Saturday, May 30, in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged misappropriation of government funds in the state-run corporation.
ALSO READ: Election Commission Begins Electoral Roll Revision in 4 States Under SIR Revision Phase III
Padma Kanta Hazarika was apprehended in Puri by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, and produced before a local court, which granted a four-day transit remand for his transfer to Guwahati.
His arrest comes days after the anti-corruption agency arrested eight other former AFDCL officials, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine.
Those arrested earlier include former Managing Directors Anuradha Adhikary Sarma and Naren C. Basumatary, former Executive Engineer Jyotish Saikia, former Assistant Executive Engineers Birinchi Adhikary and Jyoti Prasad Saikia, former Assistant Engineer Saburuddin Ahmed, former Project Manager Bhagirath Das, and former Assistant Technical Officer Rabindra Narayan Deka.
Investigators are probing alleged financial irregularities and the suspected diversion of funds within the corporation. Earlier, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption carried out searches at multiple locations in Guwahati, Nalbari, Dhubri and Nagaon districts as part of the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing and further details are expected.