Head assistant election office caught red-handed while taking bribe in an anti-corruption operation 

A massive success for the Anti-Corruption Department of Assam Police. Head Assistant of Election Office, Atashi Tarafdar was caught red-handed while taking a bribe from the proprietor of a printing press.

Owner of a printing press in Tarapur, Silchar Sujit Chanda submitted a tender and acquired a contract to print voter list and forms for the upcoming elections. He submitted two bills worth Rs 2,50,000. Atashi Tarafdar asked Chanda to pay Rs 95,000 in order to get the billed amount. Not only that, as per Chanda, she warned him that if he does not pay the asked amount he would not only lose the billed amount but will also be deprived of further contracts under the election office.

Chanda informed CBI about the scenario and the team asked him to get in touch with the anti-corruption department. The anti-corruption department officials vetted Chanda’s allegations and after they were convinced Chanda’s allegation merit, an investigation team decided to visit Silchar.

A team of nine members, two DSPs- Jitendra Chakraborty and Moushumi Das, two Inspectors- Lakhi Narayan Barman and Anukul Malakar, two computer experts and three constables conducted the operation today and caught Atashi Dutta Tarafdar red-handed.

“I called Atashi Tarafdar and told her I will pay the asked amount (95,000) in three instalments. Today, I met her with Rs 30,000 which was supposed to be the first installment. When I paid her the cash, she counted and received it. That is when the officials caught her red-handed,” informs Chanda.

Apart from the Rs 30,000 Chanda gave her, as per sources, more than Rs 3,00,000 was found in her drawer.

Till the time the report was filed, the officials are still investigating the matter.