The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed its third chargesheet in the alleged Rs 504-crore Haryana government funds embezzlement case involving IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, naming 19 accused, including six IAS officers of the Haryana cadre, officials of the two banks and employees of various state government departments.
The chargesheet was filed before the Special CBI Court in Panchkula on Wednesday, taking the total number of accused against whom chargesheets have been submitted in the case to 37. The agency said 26 accused have been arrested so far.
According to the CBI, the latest chargesheet names six IAS officers, three officials of IDFC First Bank, one official of AU Small Finance Bank and nine officials and employees of various Haryana government departments. The agency has invoked provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents as genuine, destruction of evidence, manipulation of accounts, criminal breach of trust and abetment.
Charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to bribery and criminal misconduct have also been included. The CBI alleged that certain Haryana government officials, in connivance with bank officials, executed a planned scheme to divert government funds.
According to the agency, money belonging to eight Haryana government departments and entities was transferred from various listed banks to specific branches where the accused bank officials were posted. The agency said the alleged transactions were carried out in violation of financial discipline and fraud-prevention guidelines issued by the Haryana Finance Department.
The CBI alleged that government funds deposited in bank accounts were siphoned off through fraudulent means into accounts of third parties having no connection with the concerned government departments. The funds were subsequently routed through multiple bank accounts and allegedly converted into cash, resulting in illicit financial gains for the accused.
The departments and institutions whose funds were allegedly affected include the Panchayat Department, Panchkula and Kalka Municipal Corporations, Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojana Parishad, Haryana Labour Welfare Board, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited.
