The Criminal Investigation Department of Jharkhand has filed chargesheets against 10 accused in the Hazaribagh and Bokaro treasury embezzlement cases, after completing its investigation into the alleged siphoning of government funds through forged bills, manipulated records and fraudulent bank transactions. All the accused are currently in judicial custody, and the chargesheets have been submitted before the court of the Special Judge.
Hazaribagh Probe Finds Wider Fund Diversion
In the Hazaribagh treasury embezzlement case, the CID has chargesheeted Shambhu Kumar, Rajnish Kumar Singh alias Pankaj Singh, Dhirendra Singh, Saurabh Kumar Singh, Khushboo Singh and Kajal Kumari. According to the investigation, the accused allegedly misused the Drawing and Disbursing Officer code of the Superintendent of Police’s office in Hazaribagh to fraudulently withdraw government funds over nearly a decade.
The probe initially found alleged irregularities of ₹15.41 crore involving two bank accounts. A detailed investigation later indicated that approximately ₹27 to ₹28 crore in government funds had allegedly been siphoned off through 21 bank accounts. Investigators allege that official records and computer data were manipulated, forged bills were generated and funds were routed into multiple accounts before being withdrawn.
Bokaro Case Linked to Salary Record Manipulation
In the Bokaro treasury embezzlement case, the CID has filed chargesheets against Kaushal Kumar Pandey, Satish Kumar alias Satish Kumar Singh, Ashok Kumar Bhandari and Kajal Kumar Mandal. Investigators allege that Pandey, who worked as an accountant in the Superintendent of Police’s office in Bokaro, orchestrated the fraud by manipulating the salary records of retired Police Sub-Inspector Upendra Singh.
According to the investigation, salary payments meant for the legitimate beneficiary were allegedly diverted to the bank account of Pandey’s wife, Annu Pandey. A substantial portion of the funds was then allegedly transferred to Pandey’s personal account. The CID has estimated the alleged misappropriation in the Bokaro case at approximately ₹4.29 crore.
Court to Examine Chargesheets
The chargesheets have been filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and criminal breach involving government funds, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. The prosecution has relied on banking records, digital evidence, documentary material and forensic findings collected during the investigation.
The special court will now examine the chargesheets and decide whether to take cognizance of the cases. If cognizance is taken, the trial process, including the framing of charges against the accused, will proceed in accordance with law.
