Hazaribag Treasury Scam Deepens with Notice to BJP Worker in Land Sale Case
In a significant development in the ongoing Hazaribag treasury scam investigation, the district administration has now issued a formal notice to a local BJP worker for his alleged involvement in an illegal land transaction linked to one of the primary accused. The notice targets Shiv Prasad Mehta, who is accused of acting as a middleman to facilitate the sale of 'khas mahal' government land to scam accused Shambhu Kumar without following established government rules and procedures.
Expanding Probe into Multi-Crore Financial Fraud
The administration's action comes as investigators continue to unravel the layers of a sophisticated financial fraud that has rocked the district. According to official statements, the scam first came to light when authorities discovered that Rs 28 crore had been withdrawn from the treasury on April 10 under the pretext of disbursing salaries and other legitimate emoluments. Just one day later, on April 11, investigators detected additional fraudulent transactions totaling Rs 15.41 crore, bringing the total identified irregularities to Rs 43.41 crore.
So far, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the massive financial fraud. The arrested include Shambhu Kumar, two police constables identified as Rajnish Singh (also known as Pankaj) and Dhirendra Singh, along with Shambhu's wife and another woman whose identity has not been fully disclosed. The investigation has revealed a complex network of financial manipulation and property transactions that may be interconnected.
Illegal Land Transaction Under Scrutiny
The notice served to BJP worker Shiv Prasad Mehta on Wednesday night specifically concerns his alleged role in helping an unidentified person sell 'khas mahal' land to Shambhu Kumar without adhering to government regulations. Additional Collector Santosh Singh, who heads the special investigation team, confirmed this development to media sources, stating that the notice represents a crucial expansion of the probe beyond the immediate treasury fraud.
Officials have directed Mehta to appear before authorities by April 17 to provide his response to the allegations. Failure to comply will result in legal action being initiated against him. The notice specifically pertains to a disputed multi-storey structure belonging to Shambhu Kumar that investigators believe was constructed in violation of land and building norms. Authorities suspect that both the property transaction and the subsequent construction may have direct links to the financial irregularities discovered in the treasury.
Sophisticated Financial Manipulation Uncovered
An investigating officer speaking on condition of anonymity revealed that the probe has uncovered evidence suggesting arrested accused Pankaj (Rajnish Singh) created at least nine proxy or fake identities to open bank accounts in the names of relatives and acquaintances. These accounts were then systematically used to route government funds through multiple layered transactions specifically designed to avoid detection by financial monitoring systems.
The siphoned funds from the treasury were distributed across numerous accounts, indicating a well-planned operation that likely involved more individuals than those currently arrested. During detailed scrutiny of bank records, investigators discovered transactions linked to accounts associated with Pankaj's relative, Saurabh, further expanding the network of potentially involved parties.
Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Illicit Earnings
Regarding primary accused Shambhu Kumar, investigators confirmed that their probe has established he built a luxurious house in Gaya using illicit earnings from the scam and maintained an extravagant lifestyle far beyond his legitimate means. "We are thoroughly investigating each and every fact related to Shambhu's lifestyle and financial activities," officials stated, emphasizing their commitment to following all leads in the complex case.
The Hazaribag treasury scam investigation continues to develop as authorities piece together evidence from financial records, property transactions, and witness statements. The notice to BJP worker Shiv Prasad Mehta represents a significant broadening of the probe beyond the immediate financial fraud to include related illegal activities that may have facilitated or been funded by the misappropriated treasury funds.
