The exposure of massive illegal withdrawals from the police department’s salary head has brought to light serious administrative lapses and systemic vulnerabilities. What initially appeared to be a localized fraud has now expanded into a multi-district scam, pointing toward a well-organized network. Preliminary findings reveal that salaries were fraudulently withdrawn for years by reactivating accounts in the names of retired police personnel.
One of the most alarming revelations during the probe is that no district-level inspection of the Bokaro treasury had been conducted since 2018. Acknowledging this lapse, Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nath Jha stated that treasury inspections will now be carried out twice a year without fail. He also directed that all salary-related processes undergo strict verification before disbursement.
The case highlights a major failure of accountability among officials responsible for safeguarding public funds. Investigators believe that the accused exploited these gaps to manipulate the system and carry out unauthorized withdrawals over an extended period. It has emerged that since November 2023, an accountant allegedly reactivated profiles of several retired personnel on the portal, altered their dates of birth and designations, and withdrew amounts far exceeding the prescribed salary limits.
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Massive Siphoning: ₹36 Crore Unearthed Across Districts
What is particularly surprising is that no red flags were raised at the treasury level despite these irregular transactions. Officials admit that timely inspections could have detected the fraud much earlier. So far, illegal withdrawals worth approximately ₹6 crore have been uncovered in Bokaro, while a much larger figure of around ₹30 crore has surfaced in Hazaribagh. Following these revelations, treasuries and police salary accounts across the state have been brought under scrutiny.
Accused Accountant Detained, Wife Flees with Siphoned Funds
The scam came to light after the accused accountant, Kaushal Kumar Pandey, was detained on the night of April 6. Based on interrogation, a case was registered on April 7, and he was sent to judicial custody. However, a major lapse occurred during the operation, as the accused’s wife, Anu Pandey, managed to flee. Investigators have found that the siphoned funds were being transferred into her bank account.
Police teams reached her residence for arrest, but she had already absconded. Efforts are now underway to trace her. Officials believe that as the investigation progresses, more individuals linked to the scam are likely to be identified.
Suspected Kuber Portal Breach Signals Larger Syndicate
The role of the “Kuber portal” is also under intense scrutiny. Initial findings suggest possible tampering or unauthorized access to the system. Experts say such manipulation is unlikely without credentials or internal access, raising suspicions of a larger syndicate operating behind the scenes. Investigating agencies are now focusing on how the system was breached and who facilitated the access.
According to experts, such financial frauds often involve a combination of internal collusion and exploitation of technical loopholes. Salary disbursement is a sensitive process with multiple verification layers, but if vigilance weakens at every stage, fraud can continue undetected for years.
For now, interrogation of the arrested accused is ongoing, and search operations are being conducted to nab absconding suspects. At the state level, a broader probe has been initiated, indicating the seriousness of the मामला. Authorities fear that the scale of the scam may widen further, raising critical questions about administrative accountability and the robustness of financial monitoring systems.
