by Bhupen Goswami 

GUWAHATI : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Ashok Saikia, son of former Assam Congress Chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia. The investigating agency has made the arrest in a 25-year-old case of non-repayment of nearly 9 lakh rupees. Officials said the action came after a non-bailable warrant was issued for his non-appearance in court despite repeated summons.

Officials said the GUWAHATI team of cbi questioned Ashok Saikia and arrested him. He will be produced before the court on Monday. When asked about this, his elder brother and Leader of Opposition in assam assembly Devvrat Saikia said that Ashok Saikia was taken with him by a team of CBI officials this evening. “I don’t know if he has been detained or arrested,” the senior Congress leader said. Actually, I don’t know where they have been taken. This is a very old case and the loan was repaid. The bank did not tell the court and it was the bank’s fault.Ashok Saikia, a businessman by profession, issued a statement through his elder brother and said he had taken a loan from Assam State Cooperative and Rural Development Bank Limited (ASCARD) in 1996.

“Later, I repaid the loan in 2011 as per the letter of ASCARD. The general manager in charge of the bank, through an official letter dated October 28, 2015, said that there is no arrears. The CBI team suddenly came to our house and said that I owe my loan. I did not get any notice from the CBI or the court.