Assam AFDC corruption probe: 3 officials re-arrested in Guwahati
Synopsis
At least 11 AFDC officials have now been arrested in under two weeks as Assam's DVAC tightens its grip on an alleged corruption and fund misuse network inside the state's fisheries development corporation — and investigators say more action cannot be ruled out.
Key Takeaways
Padma Kanta Hazarika , Birinchi Adikari , and Jyotish Saikia of AFDC Ltd were re-arrested on 10 June by the DVAC .
The case is registered under IPC Sections 120B, 420, 406 , and 409 — covering conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust.
Earlier, Hazarika was arrested on 30 May and eight other AFDC officials on 26 May , bringing total detentions to at least 11 .
The court remanded the trio to two days of police custody for interrogation and evidence collection.
The DVAC has not ruled out further arrests as the investigation continues.
Three officials of the Assam Fishery Development Corporation (AFDC) Ltd, including former Officer on Special Duty-cum-Project Director Padma Kanta Hazarika, were re-arrested on Wednesday, 10 June by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation, according to officials. The arrests mark a fresh escalation in a widening probe into alleged financial irregularities at the state-run fisheries body.
Who Was Arrested
The three officials taken into custody are Padma Kanta Hazarika, Birinchi Adikari, and Jyotish Saikia, all associated with AFDC Ltd. The re-arrests were carried out under Dispur Police Station Case No. 298/2022, registered under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.
What the Investigation Covers
According to officials, the case centres on alleged financial irregularities and misuse of public funds in projects undertaken by the corporation. Investigators are examining suspected violations in the handling and utilisation of government resources, with questioning expected to focus on the execution of fisheries-related development projects, financial transactions, and administrative decisions taken during the period under scrutiny.
Notably, both this case and a separate matter registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act are being probed simultaneously by the DVAC, which is investigating allegations of corruption, misappropriation of funds, and procedural violations within AFDC.
Timeline of Arrests
Hazarika was first taken into custody on 30 May in the separate Prevention of Corruption Act case. Before that, eight other AFDC officials were apprehended on 26 May as part of the same investigation. Wednesday's re-arrests bring the total number of individuals detained in connection with the AFDC probe to at least 11.
Following Wednesday's arrests, all three accused were produced before a competent court, which remanded them to two days of police custody to facilitate further interrogation and evidence collection.
What Comes Next
The DVAC has not ruled out further action as the probe progresses. Officials indicated that additional arrests or legal proceedings could follow depending on findings. The AFDC, a state government undertaking, plays a central role in implementing fisheries development programmes and promoting aquaculture across Assam, making the scale of the alleged irregularities a matter of significant public interest.
Point of View
The damage is not just financial — it undermines a programme that directly affects rural livelihoods. The real accountability question is whether the probe will reach the administrative and political oversight layers above the corporation, or stop at the officer level.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were AFDC officials re-arrested in Assam on 10 June?
Three Assam Fishery Development Corporation officials — Padma Kanta Hazarika, Birinchi Adikari, and Jyotish Saikia — were re-arrested by the DVAC on 10 June under a separate IPC case involving criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. This is distinct from an earlier Prevention of Corruption Act case in which Hazarika had already been arrested on 30 May.
How many AFDC officials have been arrested so far?
At least 11 AFDC officials have been detained in connection with the ongoing probe. Eight were arrested on 26 May, Hazarika was arrested on 30 May, and three were re-arrested on 10 June.
What is the AFDC and why does this case matter?
The Assam Fishery Development Corporation is a state government undertaking that implements fisheries development programmes and promotes aquaculture across Assam. Alleged misappropriation of funds within the corporation directly affects the delivery of rural development schemes.
What charges have been filed in the 10 June case?
The re-arrests were made under Dispur Police Station Case No. 298/2022, invoking IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant).
Could more arrests follow in the AFDC corruption case?
Yes. The DVAC has explicitly not ruled out further arrests or legal proceedings, stating that additional action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation into financial irregularities and procedural violations at AFDC.
