Former Assam Director General of Police Shankar Barua, quizzed recently by CBI in connection with Saradha scam, allegedly shot himself dead at his residence today.

Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police A P Tiwari told PTI that Barua was rushed to a local nursing home at around 12 noon and was declared dead there.

“Barua is no more. We are investigating. We cannot say anything now. Only after the investigation we can talk about details,” Tiwari said.

Barua’s body has been sent for post-mortem.

Family sources said that Barua had slipped into depression after his name was allegedly linked to the Saradha scam

Barua was undergoing treatment in a local hospital after he had complained of chest pain last week. He was discharged this morning.

“He came home and within half an hour he went to the terrace and shot himself with a pistol. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital by family members,” a close family member said.

Non-stop coverage by television channels relating to him had upset the former Director General, the family said.

CBI spokesperson in Delhi said that former Director General of Assam Police was neither examined by the CBI nor was he summoned.

Barua’s name got linked with the scam after an employee of Saradha’s media house here alleged last year that he had provided ‘protection’ to them in Assam which was arranged by popular Assamese singer and filmmaker Sadananda Gogoi on behalf of the group.

Gogoi was taken to Kolkata by CBI for further questioning and was subsequently arrested on September 12.

CBI had conducted raids on 12 premises on August 28 in connection with the multi crore rupees ponzi scheme scam.

The raids were carried out at the residences of two former Assam ministers, including that of former health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Barua and Gogoi, among others.

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