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What is the story about?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested senior IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal in connection with the IDFC First Bank fund misappropriation case. Agarwal was taken into custody on June 23.
At the time of his arrest, he was serving as Principal Secretary of the School Education Department and Agriculture Department in the Haryana Government.
According to the CBI, Agarwal's role emerged during the investigation into the alleged misuse of government funds from accounts belonging to the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (HSSPP) and the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB).
These accounts were maintained at the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector-32, Chandigarh. The arrested officer is scheduled to be produced before the court today.
Bank officials, government employees, private firms, and individuals under scanner
The CBI investigation revealed that the bank accounts in question were allegedly opened in violation of Haryana Finance Department rules. Subsequently, government funds exceeding the prescribed limits were deposited into these accounts. The agency claims that these accounts were opened during Pankaj Agarwal's tenure.
According to investigators, fraudulent transactions were allegedly carried out through these accounts, leading to the misuse of public funds and causing an estimated loss of 60.54 crore rupees to the government. The agency has also gathered several incriminating and crucial pieces of evidence against the IAS officer during the course of the investigation.
₹504 crore belonging to eight Haryana government departments
The CBI took over the investigation on a reference from the Haryana Government. Prior to this, the case was being probed by the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The agency stated that the case forms part of a larger scam involving the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector-32, Chandigarh, where nearly 504 crore rupees belonging to eight Haryana Government departments were allegedly diverted to fake companies and shell entities.
So far, the CBI has filed charge sheets against 17 accused persons, including bank officials, government employees, private companies, and individuals.
Another senior IAS officer already arrested
The CBI further informed that senior IAS officer R K Singh had earlier been arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Municipal Corporation, Panchkula. Following the completion of his police remand, he has been sent to judicial custody.
Probe expanded to other Chandigarh cases
The CBI has also taken over investigations into two other cases linked to the Chandigarh Administration — Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL)/Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and CREST Chandigarh.
Charge sheets have already been filed in both matters. In the CSCL case, five bank officials, one CSCL officer, and one private individual have been named as accused. In the CREST case, the accused include five bank officials, two officers, four private individuals, and two companies.
A senior IFS officer has also been arrested in connection with the CREST case.
The CBI has reiterated that all individuals involved in the misuse of public funds will be brought to justice and that the complete money trail of the allegedly embezzled funds will be traced.
At the time of his arrest, he was serving as Principal Secretary of the School Education Department and Agriculture Department in the Haryana Government.
According to the CBI, Agarwal's role emerged during the investigation into the alleged misuse of government funds from accounts belonging to the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (HSSPP) and the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB).
These accounts were maintained at the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector-32, Chandigarh. The arrested officer is scheduled to be produced before the court today.
Bank officials, government employees, private firms, and individuals under scanner
The CBI investigation revealed that the bank accounts in question were allegedly opened in violation of Haryana Finance Department rules. Subsequently, government funds exceeding the prescribed limits were deposited into these accounts. The agency claims that these accounts were opened during Pankaj Agarwal's tenure.
According to investigators, fraudulent transactions were allegedly carried out through these accounts, leading to the misuse of public funds and causing an estimated loss of 60.54 crore rupees to the government. The agency has also gathered several incriminating and crucial pieces of evidence against the IAS officer during the course of the investigation.
₹504 crore belonging to eight Haryana government departments
The CBI took over the investigation on a reference from the Haryana Government. Prior to this, the case was being probed by the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The agency stated that the case forms part of a larger scam involving the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector-32, Chandigarh, where nearly 504 crore rupees belonging to eight Haryana Government departments were allegedly diverted to fake companies and shell entities.
So far, the CBI has filed charge sheets against 17 accused persons, including bank officials, government employees, private companies, and individuals.
Another senior IAS officer already arrested
The CBI further informed that senior IAS officer R K Singh had earlier been arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Municipal Corporation, Panchkula. Following the completion of his police remand, he has been sent to judicial custody.
Probe expanded to other Chandigarh cases
The CBI has also taken over investigations into two other cases linked to the Chandigarh Administration — Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL)/Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and CREST Chandigarh.
Charge sheets have already been filed in both matters. In the CSCL case, five bank officials, one CSCL officer, and one private individual have been named as accused. In the CREST case, the accused include five bank officials, two officers, four private individuals, and two companies.
A senior IFS officer has also been arrested in connection with the CREST case.
The CBI has reiterated that all individuals involved in the misuse of public funds will be brought to justice and that the complete money trail of the allegedly embezzled funds will be traced.
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