BJP MP from Tezpur constituency in Assam Ram Prasad Sharma who was very much vocal against the ongoing investigation carried out by Dibrugarh police on 'Cash for Job' scam of Assam Public Service Commission ( APSC) had allegedly established good relation with the already arrested chairman of the commission – Rakesh Kumar Paul.
Ram Prasad Sharma's name cropped up in the 'Cash for Job 'scam of APSC after his daughter Pallavi Sharma was arrested by police on Wednesday last for her involvement in the scam.
In 2012, APSC had conducted examination for 16 vacancies for District Elementary Education officer, Deputy Director and Inspector of Schools post under the state Education dept. There were allegations from some candidates that huge anomalies occurred during the examination conduct.
Some aggrieved candidates sought legal help from Ram Prasad Sharma, who was a prominent advocate to fight the legal battle. RP Sharma was agreed to provide legal counseling to the aggrieved candidates and case was filed at the Gauhati High Court (case no. 4325 / 2012 –WP(c) ) .
The aggrieved candidate alleged that initially RP Sharma had taken the matter seriously but with time passes, their legal counsel intentionally diluted the case.
Sources said that there were delays after delays in filing fresh affidavit from our legal counsel's side and the aggrieved party lost confidence on RP Sharma. In early 2014, RP Sharma told them that they should search for another legal counsel as he is not is a position to continue their case.
Paul was a member of APSC from 2011 and in 2013, he was elevated to the post of chairman by the then Tarun Gogoi led Congress government.
The aggrieved candidates alleged that RP Sharma had established good connection with the then APSC chairman Rakesh Kumar Paul in 2013 and since then they became good friends.
On Wednesday last, police arrested 19 officers who belonged to Assam civil service, police service and allied services for their involvement in 'Cash for Job' scam of APSC. All the arrested officials were recruited in 2016 when Paul held the chairman post of the commission.
