Investigation – CBI Arrests Senior Haryana IAS Officer in Alleged ₹60 Crore Fund Misuse Case
Investigation – A senior Haryana cadre IAS officer has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged government fund diversion case linked to accounts maintained by two state agencies at a private bank branch in Chandigarh. The officer, Pankaj Aggarwal, was taken into custody on June 22 as part of an ongoing probe into suspected financial irregularities involving public funds.
Arrest Linked to Education and Agriculture Department Accounts
According to investigators, Aggarwal was serving as Principal Secretary in both the School Education Department and the Agriculture Department during the period under scrutiny. The agency alleges that financial transactions carried out during his tenure are connected to the opening and operation of certain accounts belonging to the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (HSSPP) and the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB).
The officer is expected to be presented before a competent court on Tuesday as the investigation moves forward.
Inquiry Began After Haryana Government Reference
The CBI stepped into the matter after receiving a formal reference from the Haryana government. Preliminary findings indicate that the accounts in question were allegedly opened at the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh without adhering to financial guidelines issued by the state Finance Department.
Investigators claim that amounts transferred into these accounts exceeded the limits prescribed under existing regulations. The accounts were reportedly created during the period when Aggarwal held senior administrative responsibilities in the concerned departments.
Alleged Loss of More Than ₹60 Crore
During the course of the investigation, officials reportedly uncovered transactions that they believe were fraudulent in nature. The agency has alleged that these financial activities led to the diversion of government money and caused a loss of nearly ₹60.54 crore to the state treasury.
CBI officials have stated that documentary and other evidence collected during the inquiry points toward the involvement of the senior bureaucrat. The agency continues to examine financial records and transaction trails linked to the case.
Part of a Wider Banking Fraud Probe
The case is reportedly one component of a much larger investigation concerning the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank. Authorities allege that approximately ₹504 crore belonging to eight departments of the Haryana government was siphoned off through a network of transactions and routed via shell entities.
The investigation was initially handled by the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau before being transferred to the CBI following a request from the state government.
Multiple Chargesheets Already Filed
The central agency has made substantial progress in the broader case and has already filed chargesheets against 17 accused individuals and entities. Those named include officials associated with IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, government employees, private citizens, and corporate entities.
Investigators continue to examine the role of various individuals connected to the alleged financial misconduct and are pursuing additional leads.
Related Cases Under CBI Examination
In a separate but related development, senior IAS officer R.K. Singh, who was arrested in a case involving alleged fund misappropriation connected to the Municipal Corporation of Panchkula, has been sent to judicial custody after the completion of his police remand.
The CBI has also assumed responsibility for two other financial irregularity cases originating in Chandigarh. One concerns Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) and the Municipal Corporation, while another relates to the Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CREST).
Chargesheets have already been submitted in both matters. The agency has named seven accused in the CSCL case and 13 in the CREST investigation. Those accused include bankers, government officials, private individuals, and companies. An Indian Forest Service officer has also been arrested in connection with the CREST matter as investigations continue.