Assam: Akhil Gogoi accuses Apex Bank's MD of disbursing Rs 20 crore to businessman, demands CBI probe

Sivsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi on October 18 slammed Apex Bank's managing director (MD) for its alleged role in disbursing over Rs 20 crore to businessman Rajesh Bajaj via Demand Bill Purchase (DBP).

Addressing the media, the Sivsagar MLA said, "Previously Biswajit Phukan claimed that the branch manager was involved in the entire monetary transaction but now we have found out that Northeast Plantation and Commercial Pvt Ltd on April 3, 2023, sent a letter to the MD of the Assam Apex Bank who is Dambaru Saikia of requesting Rs 15 crore via DBP followed by Rs 20 crore, which highlights the MD's involvement in the entire scam."

Akhil Gogoi also claimed that all documents have been retrieved by a primary source with all records which again proves that only a branch manager cannot be involved in the entire DBP scam.

Also Read: Congress leader Debabrata Saikia questions Apex Bank manager's authority to disburse Rs 20 crore without approval, demands probe

Gogoi also highlighted documents claiming the MD of the Apex Bank gave approval to the branch manager of the Apex Bank, Dispur branch to clear the said amount to Rajesh Bajaj on May 3, 2023.

Further, the MLA now has demanded the state government hand over the case to the CBI to find out the actual culprit.

"We are not saying that Biswajit Phukan is entirely involved in the DBT scam, but if he is innocent we challenge him to hand over the case to the CBI and if they fail to do so, there is nothing left to understand that to escape from this dubious scandal the BJP MLA did this," Akhil Gogoi added.

On speaking about the case being handed over to Assam police, Gogoi said that now the question remains uncertain if police can bring a BJP legislator to its capacities and arrest the said people while investigating the matter.

It is to be mentioned here that Rajesh Bajaj is reportedly close to the Apex Bank’s chairman Biswajit Phukan, who is a BJP MLA from Sarupathar constituency. Bajaj's social media profile displays Phukan visiting his office. The MLA, however, denies having any close connection with Bajaj except that the businessman hails from the constituency he Phukan represents in the assembly.