A surprise inspection by the Haryana Red Cross Society has uncovered alleged financial and administrative irregularities amounting to over Rs 22 lakh at the district Red Cross Society and St John ambulance branch in Nuh, raising suspicions of fund misuse and embezzlement, according to an official report.
Details of Financial Irregularities
The audit team from the state headquarters in Chandigarh found that nearly Rs 20.7 lakh collected during the 2025-26 financial year, including donations, was not deposited into the official bank account for months. The pending amount rose to Rs 22.33 lakh during the review period.
According to the report, Rs 40,000 remained undeposited for 13 months, Rs 2.2 lakh for 10 months, and Rs 18.23 lakh for nearly three months. Officials noted that cash deposits totaling around Rs 20.5 lakh were made only in April 2026 after the inspection process began.
Scrutiny of Branch Secretary
The findings placed the branch secretary under scanner, with officials indicating that his role in the alleged irregularities will be examined in detail. Secretary Mahesh Gupta was accused of appointing his son through outsourcing and granting him a salary scale without proper approval.
Audit of Scanning Project
The inspection also reviewed the scanning project being run across different tehsils in the district. The audit found that revenue generated through the project was allegedly kept outside official accounts. While most of the amount was later deposited during the 2025-26 financial year, the report said Rs 1.05 lakh is still pending.
Administrative Violations
Apart from the financial discrepancies, the audit highlighted several administrative violations. The accountant posted at the Nuh branch was receiving nearly double the salary paid to accountants in other Haryana districts, with recovery of the excess amount reportedly recommended.
The inspection team further observed that proper financial records were not maintained regularly. Cash books and ledgers were either incomplete or not updated, while several vouchers lacked supporting documents. The report also mentioned that the accountant was paid separately for writing the cash book despite rules prohibiting such payments. Investigators also flagged possible tampering with receipt records.
Expenditure Scrutiny
Expenditure on vehicle fuel and repairs in Nuh and Palwal also came under scrutiny, with officials directing the branch to provide verified logbooks and supporting records. The report concluded that, given the scale and nature of the irregularities, the role of the secretary in the alleged misuse of funds cannot be ruled out.
TOI reached out to the state Red Cross Society but did not receive a response immediately.
