Guwahati, Oct 14 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially assumed responsibility for the investigation into the suspected suicide of Public Works Department (PWD) assistant engineer Joshita Das. Reports indicate she took her own life following significant and unlawful pressure from her superiors to partake in corrupt activities, as officials disclosed on Tuesday.

Following a referral from the Assam government, the CBI has re-registered the case that was originally filed at the Bongaigaon police station. Das, who worked in the PWD’s Bongaigaon sub-division, was discovered deceased in her home on July 22, igniting widespread outrage throughout the state and calls for a thorough investigation.

As per the CBI FIR, Das was “coerced, criminally intimidated, and threatened” by her senior colleagues and various contractors to alter estimates and invoices related to a mini-stadium project in Bongaigaon.

The individuals named in the FIR include architect Debajit Sharma, SDO Aminul Islam, and executive engineer Dinesh Medhi Sharma, who allegedly inflicted severe workplace harassment on Das.

Her family claimed that the 29-year-old engineer faced immense mental strain due to constant pressure to endorse inflated bills and falsify documents.

They asserted that despite her repeated expressions of concern to higher officials, no actions were taken, and she was instead warned to “conform.” In her last days, Das reportedly shared with her family the unbearable pressure she was experiencing, stating that the unethical demands had rendered her workplace “unlivable.”

The FIR highlights that this relentless harassment led her into a depressive state, ultimately resulting in her death.

Previously, the Assam government established a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case, during which three accused individuals were arrested.

However, due to the seriousness and sensitivity of the allegations, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recommended that the CBI take over the investigation to guarantee transparency and accountability.

The Opposition Congress, which had appealed to Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya for a CBI investigation, welcomed this development, stating it was a move towards achieving justice for the young engineer whose death has unveiled serious ethical deficiencies within the state’s infrastructure department.