The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Parveen Kumar, the then Senior Accounts Officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), in connection with the alleged ₹504 crore bank fraud and misappropriation of government funds. The agency alleges that Kumar clandestinely opened a bank account without departmental approval or any official record and used it to facilitate the diversion of public money.
According to the CBI, the account was maintained at the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh. Investigators alleged that government funds were siphoned off from the account through cheques and fraudulent debit notes before being routed to shell entities allegedly controlled by the accused.
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The agency further claimed that although Parveen Kumar was the authorised signatory to the account, the mobile number linked to it belonged to another accused who was not employed by the department. Investigators believe this arrangement was intended to conceal the fraudulent transactions and avoid detection.
The CBI said digital and documentary evidence collected during the investigation established Kumar’s active role in the alleged fraud, leading to his arrest on Thursday.
Parveen Kumar is the second Haryana State Pollution Control Board official to be arrested in the case. Earlier, the board’s former Member Secretary, Pardeep Kumar, was also taken into custody in connection with the investigation.
According to the CBI, the HSPCB case forms part of a much larger alleged financial fraud involving the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank. Investigators allege that nearly ₹504 crore belonging to eight Haryana government departments was siphoned off through forged or non-existent fixed deposits and fraudulent debit notes.
The agency has so far filed a chargesheet against 17 accused, including six officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three Haryana government officials, two companies and six private individuals. A total of 25 people have been arrested in the case so far.
The CBI said the investigation is continuing to trace the complete trail of the misappropriated public funds, identify additional beneficiaries and determine the role of all those involved.
Meanwhile, former HSPCB Member Secretary Pardeep Kumar was remanded to judicial custody by the Special CBI Court in Panchkula after the completion of his two-day CBI custody in connection with the alleged misappropriation of ₹169.35 crore from the board’s account.
During the court proceedings, the CBI argued that releasing him could enable him to influence subordinate officials and key witnesses, tamper with evidence and obstruct the ongoing investigation.
The agency also informed the court that Pardeep Kumar was not cooperative during questioning, allegedly withheld crucial information and deleted important digital evidence. According to the CBI, he was confronted with digital and documentary evidence relating to the opening and operation of bank accounts, the investment of surplus government funds, meetings with co-accused and his administrative role as Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.
The CBI said the investigation remains underway to trace the entire flow of the allegedly misappropriated government funds, recover the proceeds of crime and identify other public servants and beneficiaries who may have been involved in the alleged fraud.
