Ranchi/Bokaro: Investigations into the high-profile salary scam in Bokaro and Hazaribagh have intensified, with enforcement agencies tightening the net around the accused. Authorities have formally begun a detailed examination of the movable and immovable assets linked to the suspects after uncovering a money trail exceeding ₹10 crore, indicating systematic diversion of illegally obtained funds into multiple investments.
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Money Trail Points to Property Investments
According to sources, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) functioning under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has found preliminary evidence that the proceeds of the scam were not only routed through bank accounts but also invested in real estate and other asset classes. Investigators have also flagged indications that several properties were purchased in the names of relatives and close associates of the accused to conceal ownership.
The probe has expanded beyond Jharkhand, with initial documentation linking investments to properties in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Patna, and Gaya. These findings are now undergoing detailed verification to establish the complete financial footprint of the network.
CID officials stated that once the investigation is completed, properties acquired through proceeds of crime will be confiscated under the relevant provisions of law, following due court procedures. Preparations for initiating asset seizure proceedings are already underway.
Assets of Accused Under Detailed Scrutiny
The accused under scrutiny include Shambhu Kumar, Kajal Kumari, Rajneesh Kumar Singh alias Pankaj, Khushboo Singh, Dhirendra Singh, Saurabh Kumar Singh, Kaushal Kumar Pandey, Satish Kumar, and Ashok Bhandari. All their financial records and property transactions are being closely examined.
Investigators have also discovered that Shambhu Kumar had constructed a luxurious house near the Hazaribagh SP residence, and the funding sources for this property are currently under verification. In a parallel development, assets worth approximately ₹1.5 crore in fixed deposits and ₹18 lakh in cash linked to Saurabh Kumar Singh have already been seized.
In the Bokaro case, suspicious financial transactions amounting to nearly ₹1.93 crore have been identified across multiple accounts linked to the accused. Additionally, fixed deposits worth ₹18 lakh and several banking records are now part of the ongoing forensic financial analysis.
Fake Bills and Reimbursement Claims Under Probe
The investigation has further revealed that the fraud was not limited to salary withdrawals alone. Large-scale irregularities were also detected in travel allowance claims and other government reimbursements. Officials noted that manipulated records were used repeatedly over several years to siphon off funds without detection.
Sources indicate that forged bills and fabricated documents were systematically used to withdraw money from government accounts, which was later diverted through layered transactions to obscure the origin of funds.
A high-level inquiry committee, headed by the Principal Secretary of the Product Department, is scheduled to visit Bokaro on Friday. The committee will review all relevant documents and case details before outlining the next course of action.
