Ranchi. Nearly 29 years after ₹1 crore 33 lakh 60 thousand was seized from the residence of government witness Dipesh Chandak during the investigation into the fodder scam, the amount will now go to the Jharkhand government. The court of CBI Special Judge Akhilesh Kumar Tiwari has ordered that the entire seized amount be paid to the Jharkhand government. The money was recovered from Chandak’s residence on January 7 and 10, 1997.
The case is linked to fodder scam case RC 52A/96. According to the CBI, Chandak was accused of being involved in the alleged illegal withdrawal of ₹95.99 crore from various treasuries in undivided Bihar between 1981 and 1994, allegedly using forged allocation letters, supply vouchers and bills. During the investigation into the case, more than ₹1.33 crore was recovered and seized from his residence.
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Amount Seized in 1997
During the investigation into the fodder scam, the CBI conducted searches at several locations. The money was recovered from Chandak’s residence during this process. Chandak later became a government witness in the case. The seized amount remained part of the legal proceedings for years, with the issue of its ownership and disposal continuing before the court.
Following a court order, the entire amount of ₹1 crore 33 lakh 60 thousand was deposited into a government bank account on January 4, 2022. However, Chandak has not claimed the money so far. This fact was also brought before the court during the hearing.
CBI Sought Transfer of Money to State Government
During the hearing, the CBI counsel argued that the seized amount should be handed over to the Jharkhand government. The CBI informed the court that the money had remained deposited in a government bank account for a considerable period and that the concerned person had not made any claim over it.
The special court subsequently ordered that the entire amount be paid to the Jharkhand government.
The money was originally seized during the period when the fodder scam investigation was focused on alleged financial irregularities and illegal withdrawals from government treasuries in undivided Bihar. After the creation of Jharkhand following the bifurcation of Bihar, several cases related to the fodder scam continued to be heard in courts in the newly formed state.
Case Involves Alleged Illegal Withdrawal of ₹95.99 Crore
According to the CBI, RC 52A/96 concerns the investigation into the alleged illegal withdrawal of ₹95.99 crore from various treasuries of undivided Bihar between 1981 and 1994. The alleged withdrawals were linked to forged documents, allocation letters, supply vouchers and bills. The more than ₹1.33 crore recovered during the investigation was also connected with the case.
After nearly three decades of legal proceedings, the court has now cleared the way for disposal of the seized amount. Under the order, the ₹1 crore 33 lakh 60 thousand deposited in the government bank account since 2022 will be paid in favour of the Jharkhand government.
The amount, recovered from Chandak’s residence in January 1997, will therefore reach the state government nearly 29 years after it was originally seized during the fodder scam investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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