Ninth Arrest in Assam Fisheries Scam: Key Accused Detained in Odisha

In a significant turn of events, authorities have apprehended Padma Kanta Hazarika, the ninth suspect in the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation financial irregularities case. Detained in Puri, Odisha, Hazarika is set to be transported to Guwahati. This follows the arrest of eight other officials, including two from the Assam Civil Services, as part of a broader investigation into misappropriated funds. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has been actively pursuing this case, leading to multiple arrests across various locations. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 14:09 IST

Significant Developments in Assam Fisheries Case

Guwahati/Puri: Authorities have made another arrest in the ongoing investigation into financial misconduct involving the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd. This marks the ninth individual taken into custody in connection with the case, as reported on Sunday.

Padma Kanta Hazarika was detained in Puri on Saturday and is set to be transported to Guwahati under a transit remand.

According to the Vigilance Department's post on X, "Ref. ACB PS Case No. 30/2023 registered in connection with the misappropriation of funds of Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd. One key accused of the case, namely Padma Kanta Hazarika, the former Project Director of the AFDCL, has been arrested in Puri, Odisha by @DIR_VAC_ASSAM yesterday."

The department further stated, "He was presented before the court in Puri last night by the team of @DIR_VAC_ASSAM, and the court granted a four-day transit remand to bring the accused to Guwahati."

Previously, at least eight government officials, including two from the Assam Civil Services (ACS), were arrested last week in relation to the same financial irregularities, as confirmed by the Vigilance Department on Tuesday.

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) noted that these arrests occurred across various locations, including Guwahati, Belsor (Nalbari), Gauripur (Dhubri), and Raha (Nagaon).

Among those already detained are ACS officials Anuradha Adhikary Sarma and Naren Chandra Basumatary, both of whom previously served as managing directors of the AFDCL, along with former executive engineers Jyotish Saikia and Birinchi Adhikary.

Additionally, other employees of the AFDCL, including Jyoti Prasad Saikia (former assistant executive engineer), Saburuddin Ahmed (former assistant engineer), Bhogirath Das (former project manager), and Rabindra Narayan Deka (former assistant technical officer), have also been arrested.