GUWAHATI, March 30: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thoroughly inquire into alleged financial irregularities at the Assam State Cooperative Apex Bank. In his letter, Gogoi also highlighted concerns about press freedom, citing the arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar as an attempt to suppress critical reporting.

Gogoi accused the Assam government of failing to address financial mismanagement at the bank while simultaneously cracking down on dissent. He alleged that the administration is focused on intimidating the media rather than ensuring financial transparency and accountability.

Gogoi’s letter detailed the arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar on March 25 while he was covering a protest outside the bank’s headquarters. The Apex Bank, a key financial institution in the state, is overseen by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who serves as a director, and MLA Biswajit Phukan, who holds the position of chairman.

According to Gogoi, Mozumdar was invited inside the bank while seeking a byte from Managing Director Dambaru Saikia. However, shortly afterwards, he was detained by Panbazar police under what Gogoi described as “baseless and exaggerated” charges.

Initially accused of caste-based abuse, Mozumdar was granted bail when the magistrate found no evidence supporting the allegations. However, he was re-arrested the next day on new charges of robbery and trespassing, which Gogoi claims were fabricated to silence his reporting.

“This is a clear attempt to intimidate the press and suppress investigative journalism. The government’s actions raise serious concerns about the misuse of police power to shield influential individuals from scrutiny,” Gogoi wrote.

In his letter, Gogoi also pointed to serious financial irregularities within the bank. Reports indicate that since June 2024, the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank has been operating without a formal contract with an IT vendor, posing significant security risks. Furthermore, banking infrastructure costs have reportedly surged from ₹28 crore in 2018 to nearly ₹50 crore in 2025.

One of the most alarming claims involves ₹14 crore allegedly funnelled to KPMG under questionable circumstances. A complaint was submitted to the Central Vigilance Commission on January 30, but the state government has not taken any visible action.

While the Assam government’s cooperative department instructed the registrar of cooperative societies to submit an investigation report by March 18, protestors dismissed this move as a mere formality, accusing authorities of shielding those involved.

Given the gravity of these allegations, Gogoi urged the Prime Minister to take decisive action. He called for a comprehensive audit of the bank’s finances and governance practices and an independent investigation into the misuse of police powers in Mozumdar’s arrest.
“This issue goes beyond the arrest of one journalist. It is about protecting press freedom, ensuring transparency in financial institutions, and upholding the rights of citizens.

Immediate intervention is necessary to hold those responsible accountable and restore public faith in democratic institutions,” Gogoi emphasized.

As allegations of corruption and suppression of dissent continue to mount, all eyes are now on the central government’s response.

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