Senior Assam IPS officer arrested for possessing assets disproportionate to income

According to a police statement, he amassed movable and immovable property disproportionate to his income between the period 1992 and 2021.

Published on: Oct 5, 2021, 23:35:16 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was arrested on Tuesday by the Assam chief minister’s special vigilance cell for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, officials said.

Rounak Ali Hazarika, deputy inspector general of police (border) was arrested from his residence in Hengrabari area of Guwahati under sections 13(1)(a)(b) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

According to a police statement, Hazarika amassed movable and immovable property disproportionate to his income between the period 1992 and 2021 and spent over ₹1.74 crore in the education of his two children.

Details of the international travel history of the senior police officer revealed that he has made nine foreign trips without obtaining permission from competent authority as required by service rules.

It was also found that besides his salary account, Hazarika and his family members have several other accounts in different banks which showed large deposits in cash made between 2019 and 2021 when he was posted in Bongaigaon district.

“The above facts and circumstances are sufficient evidence against Rounak Ali Hazarika for intentionally enriching himself illicitly during the period of his office which is in contravention to Section 2 (c) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018,” said the police release.

“He was unable to satisfactorily account for how he could amass the pecuniary resources (cash deposits/cheque deposits in his bank accounts from unknown sources during the period 2019-2020) which is disproportionate to his known sources of income,” it added.

Police informed that Hazarika has several properties in Guwahati as well as a resort in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Further investigation is on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Home/Cities/Others/Senior Assam IPS Officer Arrested For Possessing Assets Disproportionate To Income