THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 6: The Bokaro district administration has ordered a probe into the withdrawal of ₹3.15 crore from the Bokaro treasury under the salary head of a single police sub-inspector, directing officials to submit a report within 24 hours.
Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nath Jha has asked Additional Collector Mumtaz Ansari to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter, taking cognisance of media reports highlighting serious financial irregularities.
Jha said that the Superintendent of Police (SP) is also conducting a parallel probe into the case. He added that the treasury officer has been directed to investigate how such a large amount was fraudulently withdrawn and to submit a report. The Deputy Commissioner further said that the account in question has been frozen and a detailed report will soon be sent to the Finance Secretary.
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Audit Flags Major Irregularities
The issue came to light following a confidential report by the Principal Accountant General (PAG), which pointed to withdrawals of ₹3.15 crore over 20 months in the name of Sub-Inspector Upendra Singh.
A sub-inspector typically earns around ₹1 lakh per month. However, the reported withdrawals suggest a monthly payout exceeding ₹15 lakh, raising serious concerns.
The report also flagged multiple discrepancies, including minimal GPF deductions, no income tax or TDS cuts, and an incorrect pay level entry.
Suspected System Lapses
The PAG report highlighted major gaps in payroll processing and validation systems. It pointed to possible duplicate payments, repeated withdrawals of identical amounts using different voucher numbers, and inflated allowances.
There are also concerns that similar irregularities may have occurred in other treasuries.
Next Steps
The PAG has asked the Finance Department to share employee-wise data for further scrutiny and recommended strengthening monitoring systems to prevent such lapses.
The district administration’s probe is expected to establish accountability and verify the facts behind the alleged large-scale financial irregularity.