Guwahati, July 31: The Assam Cabinet has approved a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the suspected suicide of Joshita Das, a 30-year-old Assistant Engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Bongaigaon, amid mounting public anger and allegations of workplace harassment.

Das was found dead in her rented apartment in Borpara on July 21. A handwritten suicide note alleged that two senior officials had mentally harassed her and pressured her to clear inflated contractor bills with discrepancies.

In connection with the case, police have arrested three individuals: Devajit Sharma, consultant for the Barshanagar Mini Stadium Project; Dinesh Medhi Sharma, Superintending Engineer; and Aminul Islam, Sub-Divisional Officer.

Addressing the media after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the case had been thoroughly examined by a special investigation team (SIT), including post-mortem examinations, call detail record (CDR) analysis, and forensic procedures. However, he stressed that the gravity of the accusations warranted a more extensive probe.

“The cabinet is deeply concerned about the loss of a promising engineer. In light of public sentiment and the complexity of the case, we’ve decided to hand it over to the CBI,” Sarma stated.

He added that the Chief Secretary had already spoken with the CBI Director, who had informally agreed to take over the case. The formal transfer may take up to 25 days.

In a separate development, the Chief Minister also addressed the arrest of Assamese actress Nandini Kashyap, who is in two-day police custody following a fatal hit-and-run in Guwahati.

The victim, Samiul Haque, a 21-year-old student and part-time worker with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, was struck around 2:30 AM on July 25 in Dakkhingaon by a speeding SUV allegedly driven by Kashyap. He later succumbed to his injuries in a private hospital.

Sarma defended the delay in Kashyap’s arrest, explaining that the case was initially registered as culpable homicide not amounting to murder—a bailable offence. After Haque’s death, the charge was escalated to culpable homicide amounting to murder, making it non-bailable.

Also Read: CBI arrests fugitive director in multi-crore Assam financial fraud case

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