THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 8: The alleged salary scam in Jharkhand’s police department is deepening, with a fresh fraud of over ₹15 crore detected in Hazaribag after the ₹4.29 crore Bokaro treasury case, triggering a statewide investigation.
Confirming the development, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said fraudulent withdrawals have also been found in Hazaribag. He told The Jharkhand Story that a detailed probe has been ordered across all 33 treasuries and sub-treasuries to detect similar irregularities.
Statewide Audit Underway
Following the Bokaro case—where funds were siphoned off in the name of retired police personnel—Superintendents of Police (SPs) across districts were put on alert, leading to audits in multiple locations.
In Hazaribag, preliminary findings have revealed fraudulent withdrawals totalling more than ₹15 crore, with several accounts reportedly frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigations in districts such as Garhwa and Palamu have not found similar fraud so far. However, officials believe the full extent of the scam is yet to be uncovered.
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Minister Flags Oversight Failure
Kishore termed the scam a “clear failure” of administrative and treasury oversight.
“It is a failure of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and senior treasury officers, who are mandated to inspect treasuries regularly,” he said.
Larger Racket Suspected
Officials suspect the fraud may be part of a larger, long-running racket involving insiders within the police accounts system.
In the Bokaro case, accountant Kaushal Kishore Pandey allegedly withdrew ₹3.15 crore in the name of retired Sub-Inspectors and ₹1.14 crore in the name of retired Havildars over nearly 20 months. He has since been arrested, prompting wider scrutiny.
Demand for Statewide Probe
The revelations have sparked concern within the police department. On April 7, the Jharkhand Police Association wrote to the Director General of Police (DGP), seeking a comprehensive probe across all districts, units, and battalions.
With fresh irregularities emerging in Hazaribag, authorities fear the scam could be far more widespread, with more cases likely to surface as audits continue.