The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has detained the former senior accounts officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) for allegedly misusing government funds from the Board’s account at IDFC First Bank’s Sector 32 branch in Chandigarh. The arrested individual, Parveen Kumar, reportedly set up the account secretly and managed it to facilitate illicit transactions. This arrest brings the total number of Haryana government officials apprehended in this case to four, with a total of 25 individuals arrested overall.
The CBI disclosed that the misappropriation of Board funds involved the diversion of money through cheques and debit notes to shell companies controlled by the accused. Despite Kumar being the account signatory, the mobile number of another non-departmental individual was linked to the account to conceal fraudulent activities. Following incriminating evidence from the investigation, Kumar’s active involvement in the scheme was exposed, leading to his arrest. The CBI has also previously arrested two other HSPCB officers in connection with this case.
The fraudulent activities at HSPCB are part of a broader scam at the IDFC First Bank branch in Sector 32, where approximately Rs 504 crore from eight Haryana government departments was funneled through fake fixed deposits and debit notes to shell entities. The CBI has filed charges against 17 individuals in this Haryana case, including bank officials from IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, public servants from the Haryana government, companies, and private individuals.
