Bokaro Police Accountant Arrested for Massive Treasury Fraud
In a shocking case of financial misconduct, an accountant employed with the Bokaro police was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly diverting over Rs 4.29 crore from the district treasury into his wife's bank account. The accused, identified as Kaushal Kumar Pandey, faces serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after the fraud was uncovered earlier this week.
Discovery and Investigation of the Scam
The fraud came to light on Monday when suspicious withdrawals, initially estimated at Rs 3.15 crore under a sub-inspector's salary head, were flagged by authorities. Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nath Jha immediately ordered a probe, while Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh directed the DSPs of headquarters and city to conduct a detailed inquiry at the accounts wing of the SP's office.
Investigators revealed that between the financial years 2023-24 and 2025-26, a total of Rs 4,29,71,007 was fraudulently withdrawn in 63 transactions over 25 months, from November 2023 to March 2026. The withdrawals were made in the name of havildar Upendra Singh, who had superannuated in July 2016, raising serious concerns over systemic lapses in the treasury's oversight mechanisms.
Modus Operandi and Arrest Details
During interrogation, Pandey admitted to manipulating the retired personnel's details on the government portal to facilitate the fraudulent transactions. The funds were then diverted into a bank account belonging to his wife, Anu Pandey, effectively masking the illicit trail for an extended period. Police found that the money was transferred from his wife's account to Pandey's personal account and subsequently withdrawn.
Based on a complaint filed by District Treasury Officer Gulabchand Oraon, an FIR was registered at the City police station under relevant sections of the BNS against Pandey. He was sent to judicial custody on Tuesday, and police have seized two mobile phones for further examination to gather additional evidence.
Wider Fallout and Administrative Actions
In response to the scandal, Deputy Commissioner Jha conducted a surprise inspection of the district treasury office on Tuesday. This led to the removal of two assistant accountants, Shailendra Singh Choudhary and Chandan Kumar Rajak, over suspected irregularities. They were replaced by Angad Kumar from the social security office and Khagen Das from the district land acquisition office.
Earlier in the day, Jha chaired a meeting with drawing and disbursing officers, emphasizing that "even the slightest financial irregularity would not be tolerated." He ordered a detailed audit of withdrawals made over the last three financial years and directed officials to strictly adhere to treasury rules to prevent future breaches.
Pandey, who had been employed with the Bokaro police since 2018, is now at the center of a case that highlights vulnerabilities in public financial management. The seizure of both bank accounts involved has been completed, and authorities are intensifying their investigation to ensure accountability and restore integrity in the system.
