SHAKEEL AKHTER
Ranchi, April 27: A major salary fraud has surfaced in Jharkhand, with irregular withdrawals confirmed in 14 out of the state’s 33 treasuries, raising concerns of a wider scam cutting across multiple government departments.
Fraud Detected Across Multiple Treasuries
According to findings shared by the Accountant General (AG) with the State Government, fraudulent withdrawals amounting to ₹31,47,46,877 have been detected so far. The affected treasuries include Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Ranchi, Deoghar, Palamu, Godda, Jamshedpur, Tenughat, Gumla, Chaibasa, Maheshpur, Khunti, Seraikela and Ramgarh.
The AG has cautioned that the irregularities may not be limited to the Police Department and could extend to other departments such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Health.
Police Personnel Drew Double Salaries
The investigation has revealed that officials within the Police Department, ranging from constables to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), drew salaries twice in a single month.
Among those flagged are DSPs Naushad Alam, Rajesh Yadav, Manibhushan Prasad and Mukesh Kumar Mahto, along with constables Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary, Ashok Sanjay, Chandan Kumar Tiwari, Arvind Yadav, Shankar Ram and Surendra Kumar Ram, all of whom allegedly received duplicate salary payments.
Specific Cases Under Scanner
In one instance, ₹29.39 lakh was withdrawn from the Gumla treasury in the name of Laganu Oraon between January and November 2024, with the funds transferred to an SBI account on Palkot Road, Gumla.
In another case, ₹21.22 lakh was withdrawn from the Seraikela treasury in the name of Tulsi Soy between January 2024 and December 2025. Investigators found that two separate Payee IDs were used in both cases, raising suspicions of systematic manipulation.
Multiple Departments Under Suspicion
The AG’s communication highlights that the issue is not confined to police personnel alone. Instances of double salary withdrawals have also been reported among assistant teachers and other government employees, indicating a broader systemic lapse.
The letter from the Accountant General has urged the State Government to take immediate note of the irregularities and expand the investigation, as the scam may involve multiple departments and treasuries beyond those already identified.