Assam Anti-Corruption Officials Arrest Former Fisheries Official in Odisha

Guwahati: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in Assam has arrested a former senior official from the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd. (AFDCL) on allegations of fund misappropriation. Padma Kanta Hazarika, who previously worked as an Officer on Special Duty and Project Director for the agency, was taken into custody in Puri, Odisha, on May 30.

Hazarika’s arrest stems from an investigation registered under ACB Police Station Case No. 30/2023. Following his capture, a court in Puri granted investigators four days of transit remand to transfer him to Guwahati for legal proceedings.

Simultaneous with the arrest, anti-corruption teams raided three flats linked to Hazarika in the Hatigaon area of Guwahati. During these searches, officials recovered several documents pertinent to the case. Investigators also seized a banknote counting machine, five official seals representing various organizations, and additional materials that will now be integrated into the ongoing financial probe.