A senior Assam Civil Service officer was arrested in Guwahati after being allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe in connection with a land sale permission NOC.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, said Lachit Kumar Das, Additional Director of Land Records at Rupnagar, allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh from a complainant and was caught after accepting ₹45,000 as part of the demanded amount.
ACS officer Lachit Kumar Das was arrested in Guwahati after a vigilance trap at the Directorate of Land Records office in Rupnagar on May 21. Officials said he was allegedly caught accepting ₹45,000 linked to an NOC for land sale permission. A later search at his Beltola residence led to major cash and document seizures.
According to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Directorate, the complainant approached the agency after refusing to pay the alleged bribe. The complaint stated that the money had been demanded for issuing a No Objection Certificate connected to land sale permission.
Acting on the complaint, a vigilance team laid a trap on May 21 at the Directorate of Land Records office in Rupnagar, Guwahati. Officials said Das was allegedly caught inside his office chamber immediately after accepting ₹45,000 from the complainant.
The tainted money was recovered from his possession and seized in the presence of independent witnesses. A case has been registered at the Anti-Corruption Branch Police Station under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
For Guwahati residents, the case is significant because it involves the Directorate of Land Records in Rupnagar, an office linked to land-related administrative work. Land sale permissions, NOCs, and property documents are matters that affect citizens, buyers, sellers, and families dealing with real estate transactions in the city.
Following the arrest, officials carried out a search at Das’s residence in the Rani Bagan area near Beltola Tiniali in Guwahati. The search continued till around 1:30 AM on May 22, according to reports.
During the search, vigilance officials reportedly recovered and seized ₹48,38,150 in cash from a locker inside the residence. They also found fixed deposit certificates worth ₹80 lakh in the names of Das and his family members.
Officials also recovered General Life Insurance and Postal Life Insurance policies, multiple bank account details, and documents related to landed properties. Authorities said scrutiny and analysis of the seized financial and property records are underway.
Some later reports stated that further searches led to higher cash recoveries, with figures rising beyond the initial ₹48.38 lakh seizure. However, the details provided in the official May 22 account refer to ₹48.38 lakh in cash and ₹80 lakh in fixed deposits from the Beltola residence search.
The case has again brought attention to corruption concerns in public-facing administrative services, especially land-related approvals. In Guwahati, where land value and property transactions remain major civic issues, transparency in land records and NOC processes is a direct public concern.
The next step will be further investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Directorate, including verification of seized documents, bank accounts, fixed deposits, and property records. For citizens, the case also underlines the importance of reporting alleged bribe demands instead of paying them.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Accused officer | Lachit Kumar Das, ACS |
| Post | Additional Director of Land Records |
| Office location | Rupnagar, Guwahati |
| Alleged demand | ₹1 lakh |
| Alleged bribe accepted | ₹45,000 |
| Case linked to | NOC for land sale permission |
| Trap date | May 21 |
| Residence searched | Rani Bagan, Beltola Tiniali, Guwahati |
| Cash seized | ₹48,38,150 |
| Fixed deposits found | ₹80 lakh |
| Law invoked | Section 7(a), Prevention of Corruption Act |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the ACS officer arrested in the Guwahati bribery case?
The arrested officer is Lachit Kumar Das, an Assam Civil Service officer posted as Additional Director of Land Records in Rupnagar, Guwahati.
What was the alleged bribe demand for?
The alleged bribe demand was linked to issuing a No Objection Certificate for land sale permission.
How much money was allegedly accepted during the trap?
Officials said Das was allegedly caught accepting ₹45,000 as part of the alleged ₹1 lakh bribe demand.
What was seized from the officer’s Guwahati residence?
Vigilance officials reportedly seized ₹48,38,150 in cash, fixed deposit certificates worth ₹80 lakh, insurance policies, bank account details, and documents related to landed properties.