Suspended IAS Officer Missing After Arrests of Two Colleagues
Suspended IAS officer Pardeep Kumar, accused in the Rs 657 crore bank scam involving IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, is allegedly on the run with his phone switched off, according to CBI sources. Kumar, a 2011-batch IAS officer, faces imminent arrest after the CBI arrested 2012-batch IAS officer Ram Kumar Singh and 2000-batch IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal, both of whom are now in judicial custody.
Details of the Rs 657 Crore Fraud
The scam involves the alleged collusion of officials from IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank with Haryana government officials, including IAS officers, to siphon off Rs 657 crore from the accounts of eight Haryana departments and two Chandigarh Administration departments. The Enforcement Directorate, which is also investigating, has pegged the scam at Rs 645 crore.
Pardeep Kumar's Role in HSPCB Fraud
Kumar’s alleged role is linked to a Rs 169 crore fraud at the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), where he served as Member Secretary from August 31, 2022, to December 10, 2025. He was promoted to IAS from the Haryana Civil Services and began his career as a City Magistrate in Karnal in 1999.
The CBI earlier arrested Saurav Sharma, a data entry operator at HSPCB, on June 23. A Panchkula court sent him to CBI custody for four days. Sharma allegedly conspired with accused bank officials to facilitate and assist in processing investments in favor of private banks in violation of rules, causing a loss of Rs 169.36 crore to the pollution board.
Funds Diverted to Shell Companies
From the HSPCB account, funds were transferred to Capco Fintech Services, Disha Traders, Mannat Contractor, SRR Planning Gurus Pvt Ltd, Vitamed Solutions, and Swastik Desh Projects. Of this, over Rs 70 crore went to Swastik Desh Projects, and over Rs 53 crore to Capco Fintech Services. These are shell firms floated by the accused to siphon off funds.
Another IAS officer, Vineet Garg, who served as Chairman of HSPCB, is also under scrutiny. The government had earlier granted permission to investigate him under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Eight IAS Officers Under Scanner
Kumar was suspended on April 8 along with Ram Kumar Singh. In total, eight IAS officers are under investigation in the IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank scam. Of these, two have been arrested, one is on the run, and the remaining five face potential arrest.
