New Delhi: A major development has emerged in the ongoing investigation into Haryana’s alleged ₹661 crore bank scam, with suspended IAS officer Pradeep Dagar reportedly going missing just four days before his scheduled retirement. His mobile phone has remained switched off, and the Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting searches at multiple locations to trace him.
IAS Officer Under Scanner
According to investigators, Dagar, who was promoted to the Indian Administrative Service from the Haryana Civil Services, served as Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board between August 2022 and December 2025.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
During this tenure, authorities detected an alleged financial irregularity involving approximately ₹169 crore from the Board’s account maintained with an IDFC First Bank branch in Chandigarh. Investigators consider it one of the largest alleged diversions involving a single government department within the wider scam.
CBI Probe Intensifies
The investigating agency alleges that government funds were routed through a network of shell companies allegedly linked to certain banking officials before being transferred through multiple accounts. Following approval for investigation under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the probe has intensified.
Dagar was suspended on April 8 while serving as Director and Special Secretary in the Haryana Transport Department. His disappearance shortly before retirement has added a significant new dimension to the investigation.
Digital Evidence Being Examined
So far, investigators have arrested IAS officers Pankaj Agarwal and R.K. Singh, along with Indian Forest Service officer Navneet Srivastava, in connection with the case. All three remain in judicial custody.
Investigators are also examining alleged digital communications, WhatsApp chats, mobile phone data, location records and financial trails linked to the wider case. Some recovered communications reportedly refer to the movement of cash, and forensic analysis is underway to establish their authenticity and context.
Assets And Money Trail Under Probe
Property records reportedly show that Dagar owns high-value real estate assets in Rohtak and Gurugram, including a luxury apartment in Gurugram. Investigators are examining the financial sources behind these assets as part of the ongoing probe into possible disproportionate assets and related transactions.
The alleged scam first came to light when a Haryana government department initiated the process of closing one of its bank accounts and transferring funds to another bank. During reconciliation, officials reportedly discovered a substantial mismatch between government records and the actual bank balance.
Considering the scale and complexity of the suspected fraud, the investigation was transferred to the CBI. Investigators are continuing efforts to trace the suspended officer while analysing financial records, digital evidence and the suspected network connected to the alleged diversion of public funds.
