SC Upholds Corruption Case Against Suspended Assam DIG Rounak Ali Hazarika

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 9) declined to quash a corruption case against suspended Assam police officer Rounak Ali Hazarika.

A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan upheld the Gauhati High Court’s verdict and dismissed an appeal filed by the former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police.

The former DIG Hazarika is charged with holding assets disproportionate to his known income.

In June 2021, a complaint was filed against him with the Superintendent of Police at the Chief Minister’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Cell. The complainant alleged that Hazarika, a corrupt police officer, had amassed properties valued in crores of rupees.

An inquiry was initiated, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell discovered that Hazarika had amassed immovable and movable assets approximately 160 percent more than his known sources of income. He was suspended from duty in July 2021 for taking several unauthorized foreign trips since 2011 and was arrested on October 5, 2021.

The Assam Police submitted its supplementary chargesheet against Hazarika for offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2022. He was also charged under the Official Secrets Act. The top court granted him bail in October 2022.

The Gauhati High Court, in June, rejected his plea to quash the criminal proceedings, leading him to seek relief from the Supreme Court. The apex court has now upheld the High Court’s decision.