CHANDIGARH, India: India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a third chargesheet in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of Rs504 crore in Haryana government funds, naming 19 more people, including six Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, bank officials and other government employees.
The latest chargesheet was filed on September 2 before the Special CBI Court in Panchkula, taking the total number of people chargesheeted in the case to 37.
The six IAS officers named in the latest chargesheet belong to the Haryana cadre.
The list also includes three officials of IDFC First Bank, one official of AU Small Finance Bank and nine other Haryana government officials. The accused have been booked for offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence, falsification of accounts, criminal breach of trust and abetment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The case also involves charges of bribery and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to the CBI’s investigation, government officials colluded with bank officials in a planned scheme to divert public funds.
The agency finds that funds belonging to eight Haryana government departments and organisations were transferred from various empanelled banks to the designated branches of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank.
The CBI has found that these transfers were carried out in violation of financial prudence and fraud-prevention guidelines issued by the Haryana Finance Department.
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Once the funds were transferred, they were diverted to third parties that had no connection with the government departments concerned. Investigators further found that the money was routed through multiple bank accounts in an effort to conceal its trail before being converted into cash, resulting in wrongful enrichment of those involved.
The departments and organisations whose funds were affected include the Panchayat Department; Municipal Corporations of Panchkula and Kalka; Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad; Haryana Labour Welfare Board; Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board; Haryana State Pollution Control Board; and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited.
The CBI has put the overall fraud at Rs504 crore. The federal agency took over the investigation from the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau following a request from the state government.
Before filing the latest chargesheet, the CBI had already chargesheeted 18 people, including bank officials, government employees, private individuals and companies.
So far, 54 searches conducted, 26 accused arrested
During the investigation so far, the agency has conducted 54 searches and arrested 26 accused, while also recovering and seizing incriminating material. The seized assets include gold valued at around Rs 20 crore.
The CBI has also taken over two related cases from Chandigarh. One concerns Chandigarh Smart City Limited and the Municipal Corporation, while the other relates to the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society. Chargesheets have already been filed in both cases.
The agency said investigations in all three cases would continue against other suspects and accused. Investigators are focusing on establishing the complete money trail and recovering the proceeds of the fraud. The charges are subject to judicial proceedings, and the accused will have the opportunity to contest the charges before the court.
