SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, April 11: Even as the Jharkhand government moves to tighten its response to the multi-crore treasury scam, a proposal by the finance department to hand over key cases to the CID is currently pending with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The move comes against the backdrop of Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore’s recent letter calling for a comprehensive, two-pronged probe into both systemic lapses and possible criminal conspiracy.
Sources said the finance department has recommended that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) take over FIRs lodged in Bokaro and Hazaribagh, where large-scale fraudulent withdrawals have been detected. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between the finance minister and Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday.
Alongside the criminal probe, the department has suggested setting up a high-level committee led by a senior IAS officer to examine systemic failures that enabled the fraud. It has also proposed involving the Principal Accountant General (PAG) by deputing an experienced audit officer and conducting a special audit of withdrawals made by SP offices in Bokaro and Hazaribagh over the past three years.
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Minister flags systemic failure, seeks statewide probe
In his letter written on Friday, the finance minister stressed that the scam must be examined from two angles—loopholes in the treasury system and deliberate criminal acts. He warned that cases initially detected in Bokaro and Hazaribagh could surface in other districts as well, indicating a wider network.
He raised concerns over the lack of accountability of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), who are responsible for verifying employee details, salary bills, and payments under the Jharkhand Treasury Code. Despite their central role, no responsibility has yet been fixed, he noted.
The minister also directed that the tenure of accountants posted in SP offices be reviewed, suggesting that prolonged postings may have enabled manipulation.
Over ₹30 crore fraud, pattern under scanner
So far, fraudulent withdrawals exceeding ₹30 crore have been detected—over ₹4 crore in Bokaro and more than ₹27 crore in Hazaribagh—with the amount expected to rise. Investigations have revealed a common pattern: retired personnel shown as active, fake salary bills generated repeatedly, and funds diverted to personal or relatives’ accounts through multiple and duplicate vouchers.
In Bokaro, an accountant allegedly carried out 63 fraudulent transactions over 25 months by manipulating records of a retired havildar. In Hazaribagh, the scam is suspected to have continued for nearly 14 years, involving fake billing and diversion of funds to multiple accounts.
e-Kuber system, police offices under scanner
The scam has also exposed serious vulnerabilities in the e-Kuber treasury system, where weak validation and a lack of real-time checks allowed fraudulent entries to pass undetected. The role of SP offices, which function as DDOs, is also under scrutiny.
The minister had sought a detailed inquiry report from Palamu, indicating that the probe may widen further. However, so far, there have been no reports of fraudulent withdrawals from any other districts beyond those already identified.
He has emphasised that only a thorough, statewide investigation can uncover the full extent of the scam and establish accountability at all levels.