A major financial fraud has surfaced within the Mumbai Police, with investigators uncovering that nearly Rs 6.5 crore was paid as salaries to 10 individuals
who were never employed by the force. The alleged scam, which dates back to 2019-20, has now been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch for a detailed investigation. According to preliminary findings, the 10 individuals existed only on official records and were never part of the Mumbai Police establishment. Despite this, salaries continued to be credited in their names for nearly two years, resulting in a loss of approximately Rs 6.41 crore to the state exchequer. The fraud reportedly remained undetected for almost six years before being flagged during an internal audit. The audit found serious irregularities in payroll records and attendance registers. Investigators suspect that officials and staff members attached to the police administration and salary departments manipulated records to facilitate the payments. Attendance for the so-called employees was allegedly marked regularly, allowing salaries to be processed without raising suspicion. Sources indicate that the irregularities came to light during a review of employee records and salary transactions. The probe reportedly found discrepancies linked to the migration of personnel data and payroll records, prompting a closer examination of salary accounts and attendance entries. The scale of the fraud has raised concerns about internal controls within one of the country's largest police forces. Reports suggest that cases have been registered against multiple police personnel and administrative staff suspected of involvement in the conspiracy. Two officials have also reportedly been suspended pending further inquiry. Given the seriousness of the allegations and the possibility of a wider network operating within the department, Mumbai Police authorities have transferred the case to the Crime Branch. Investigators are expected to trace the flow of funds, identify the beneficiaries of the salary payments, and determine whether additional "ghost employees" were inserted into the payroll system. The Crime Branch is now examining financial records, bank accounts, payroll data and administrative files to establish the full extent of what could become one of the biggest internal payroll frauds in the history of the Mumbai Police.
