Haryana land funds scam: More banks under scanner

5 Dariya News

Chandigarh 23-Jul-2015

A day after the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) booked a revenue officer and a bank manager for misappropriation of crores of government funds, the special investigation team (SIT) set up in this case has decided to investigate the role of officials of some other banks.A bureau spokesman said here on Thursday that during the investigation of the multi-crore rupee scam, the role of officials of Punjab National Bank, Panchkula and New Delhi, Induslnd Bank, Panchkula, J & K Bank, Chandigarh, Canara Bank, New Delhi, Central Bank of India, New Delhi and Maharashtra Bank, Yamunanagar would also be probed.The connivance of some other bank officials is suspected in this case, the spokesman said.

The SVB had, on Wednesday, registered a criminal case against Naresh Kumar Sheokand, former district revenue officer of Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, for misappropriating government funds meant for award of land acquisition."Bhim Singh, senior manager of Punjab National Bank, Jangpura in New Delhi (now posted at Palwal), who actively conspired in illegal diversion of these funds also figures in the FIR lodged at Panchkula unit of SVB," the spokesman said here."Through a detailed web of multiple accounts opened without authority, the duo siphoned off Rs.47 crore of government money from NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) account alone."

"Besides, embezzlement of Rs.45 crore of funds related to Administrator-Haryana Urban Development Authority, Rohtak, was also found," he said."The money was transferred to multiple accounts of private persons not connected in any way with land acquisition. A sum of Rs.250 crore was also diverted illegally in March 2013, which was returned after about a month. The investigation has been entrusted to a Special Investigation Team, headed by DIG, Vigilance Rajender Kumar," he added.Both were booked for cheating, forgery and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The SVB will also probe the role of various beneficiaries who were in receipt of funds without any entitlement.