Haryana Government Suspends Two IAS Officers in Major Bank Scam
The Haryana government took decisive action on Thursday by suspending two senior IAS officers, RK Singh and Pradeep Kumar, for their alleged involvement in a massive Rs 500 crore scam linked to IDFC First Bank. In a significant move, the state administration has also transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure a thorough and impartial probe into the financial irregularities.
ED Investigation Uncovers Widespread Fraud
This development follows a recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) operation, which last month froze 90 bank accounts as part of a money laundering case connected to the same bank. The ED revealed that nearly Rs 590 crore of Haryana government funds are suspected to have been siphoned off through sophisticated fraudulent activities.
According to the central probe agency, the scam involved the use of multiple shell companies and fabricated billing for gold purchases, orchestrated over the past year. The ED stated that former bank employees, including Ribhav Rishi, allegedly assisted in diverting the "proceeds of crime" into accounts held by Rishi and his wife, Divya Arora.
Arrests and Ongoing Legal Actions
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities have arrested 11 individuals so far. The arrests include:
- Six bank employees
- Four private individuals
- One government official
The suspension of the IAS officers and the handover to the CBI underscore the seriousness of the allegations and the government's commitment to addressing corruption at high levels. This case highlights the need for stringent oversight in financial transactions involving public funds.
