Jharkhand treasury scam - 50+ Cr loss

[Gauri]

Source: https://theprint.in/india/jharkhand-cm-soren-orders-probe-into-treasury-fraud-cases/2906047/

[Tarun]

There's a massive, long‑term financial scandal draining the Jharkhand state exchequer through a systematic "Salary Scam". Here's every critical detail uncovered so far:

THE TIMELINE
- Hazaribagh: fraudulent withdrawals of over ₹15.41 Crore over an 8‑year period.
- Bokaro: a 25‑month spree from Nov 2023 to Mar 2026, involving 63 illegal transactions.
- Ranchi: looting detected across three financial years (2023‑24 to 2025‑26).

THE DAMAGE REPORT (By District)
- Hazaribagh: total embezzlement reached ₹27‑28 Crore.
- Bokaro: between ₹4.29 Crore and ₹6 Crore siphoned from police salary accounts.
- Ranchi: over ₹3 Crore stolen from the Institute of Animal Health and Production.
- Statewide: irregularities now suspected in Palamu, Sahibganj and Garhwa, with the total expected to exceed ₹50 Crore.

THE MODUS OPERANDI
- Ghost Employees: scammers kept a policeman who retired in July 2016 as "active" on the system to divert funds.
- Kuber Portal Tampering: main conspirators manipulated salary bills on the 'Kuber' portal, inflating figures to withdraw amounts far beyond limits.
- Temporary Pay IDs: fraudsters used temporary pay IDs to authorise fake withdrawals and route money to benami accounts.
- Transfer Dodging: many accused stayed in the same posts for 10‑12 years, bypassing the mandatory 3‑year transfer rule.

KEY SUSPECTS & ARRESTS
- Kaushal Kumar Pandey: Bokaro police accountant arrested for diverting funds into his wife's account.
- Shambhu Kumar, Rajnish Singh & Dhirendra Singh: Hazaribagh accounts branch staff arrested; Shambhu reportedly owns buildings worth ₹8 Crore in Gaya and Hazaribagh.
- Munindra Kumar & Sanjeev Kumar: Ranchi conspirators who diverted ₹1.52 Cr and ₹1.41 Cr respectively into personal accounts.
- Family ties: wives Kajal Kumari and Khusboo Kumari are in judicial custody for laundering funds.
- Assets: authorities have frozen 21 suspicious accounts, seizing ₹1.6 Crore.

The scam so far is estimated at ₹40‑50 Crore, but many think it could be much higher given how long it's been going on. The government is investigating funds across all treasuries.

I hope central agencies take charge soon. A scam of this scale couldn't happen without a nod from the top.