In a significant financial scandal, the chief cashier of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna has been taken into custody for allegedly misappropriating lakhs of rupees from the institute's funds.
Audit Uncovers Major Financial Discrepancy
Anurag Aman, the chief cashier, was arrested on Friday following the discovery of a massive shortfall in the cash vault. The fraud, amounting to Rs 42.98 lakh, came to light during a routine internal audit. Accounts officer Piyush Anand, who led the audit, found alarming inconsistencies in the cash balance records.
The audit revealed that between April 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, Aman had withdrawn a total of Rs 44.50 lakh from the institute's vault. However, a subsequent physical verification of the cash on January 4, 2026, showed only Rs 1.51 lakh present, leaving a glaring deficit of Rs 42.98 lakh.
Confession and Channeling of Funds
During police interrogation, the accused made a crucial admission. Anurag Aman confessed to transferring the embezzled money to his wife's bank account held with the Bank of India. Furthermore, he disclosed that portions of the stolen funds were invested in the stock market in an attempt to generate illicit profits.
City SP (West) Bhanu Pratap Singh confirmed the sequence of events, stating the internal audit was pivotal in exposing the operation. Acting swiftly on the audit findings, the AIIMS administration lodged a formal First Information Report (FIR) at the Phulwarisharif police station on January 7.
Institutional Response and Legal Action
The institute has taken stringent disciplinary and legal measures in response to the breach of trust. Anurag Aman was immediately suspended from his position and faces serious charges under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal breach of trust and fraud.
Beyond the police case, AIIMS-Patna has initiated a thorough departmental inquiry to examine the lapses that enabled the fraud. In an official statement, the administration sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that patient care and hospital services remain completely unaffected by the incident.
To fortify its financial systems, the institute has announced plans to implement stricter monetary controls and enhance its audit mechanisms. These steps are aimed at preventing any recurrence of such financial misconduct in the future and safeguarding public funds.
