The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured judicial custody of 2000-batch IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal in connection with an alleged ₹504-crore fraud case involving the misappropriation of Haryana government funds. During a hearing in a Panchkula court on Thursday, the central agency alleged that key digital and electronic evidence directly relevant to the criminal conspiracy had been intentionally deleted from the senior officer’s mobile devices. Accepting the CBI’s plea, the special duty magistrate remanded Agarwal to judicial custody at Central Jail, Ambala, until July 4.
Allegations of Tampering and Witness Influence
The enforcement agency strongly opposed the accused officer’s release, arguing that he wields considerable influence over key witnesses and subordinate officials connected to the corporate plot. Investigators submitted to the court that there was a real and credible apprehension that, if released, Agarwal could win over, intimidate, or otherwise improperly influence witnesses to protect his interests.
Agarwal was originally arrested on June 22 and spent two days in initial CBI custody. While seeking the extension into formal judicial custody, prosecutors informed the court that during his two-day police remand, the bureaucrat remained completely non-cooperative, withheld material information, and failed to provide any plausible or logical explanation regarding the incriminating material placed before him during interrogation.
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Violations of State Finance Guidelines
The case involves the irregular deployment of public funds across multiple government departments at IDFC First Bank’s Sector 32 branch in Chandigarh. According to the CBI, Agarwal was serving as the principal secretary of the school education and agriculture departments when bank accounts for the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad and the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board were opened. The establishment of these accounts allegedly violated strict state finance department guidelines governing the handling of public sector finances.
During detailed interrogation sessions, the senior bureaucrat was confronted with various digital and documentary records. These included files detailing his association with co-accused persons and instructions he allegedly issued to subordinates regarding the opening of accounts and the modifications made in note sheets to facilitate transactions with IDFC First Bank.
Broadening Probe Reaches Senior Officials
Central investigators also questioned the officer regarding specific finance department circulars, meetings held with other accused individuals, and messages received on his registered mobile number. The inquiry specifically touched upon his operational tenure while heading the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and the Haryana School Education Department (HSED). Furthermore, he was pressed for details regarding a meeting between co-accused Ribhav Rishi and Rajesh Sangwan, the subsequent utilization of cancelled cheques, and the specific steps he took after learning about the fraudulent transactions.
The CBI informed the Panchkula court that a comprehensive further investigation remains actively underway to map the entire scope of the operation. The involvement of other individuals, including senior government functionaries, is yet to be fully ascertained as agents work to trace the precise financial trail of the allegedly misappropriated government funds.
