By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: An Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer was arrested on Thursday, May 21, by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (V&AC), Assam, over alleged bribery linked to land sale permission approvals.
The department, in an official release, said allegations were made against Lachit Kumar Das, ACS and Additional Director of Land Records.
He is accused of demanding Rs 1 lakh from an applicant as a condition for granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a land transaction.
After refusing to pay the alleged amount, the complainant approached the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Directorate and sought action in the matter.
Following the complaint, a trap was organised on May 21 by a V&AC team at the office of the Directorate of Land Records in Rupnagar, Guwahati.
Officials reported that Lachit Kumar Das was caught inside his office chamber shortly after allegedly receiving Rs 45,000 as part of the demanded sum.
The cash was later recovered from his possession and seized in front of independent witnesses, the department said.
The Anti-Corruption Branch Police Station has registered Case No. 19/2026 under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), in connection with the matter.
Following the recovery of incriminating evidence during the operation, the officer was placed under arrest.
Legal proceedings are ongoing.