CBI to probe ₹800-cr govt fund transfer to Bihar NGO

PATNA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will investigate the Srijan scam involving the alleged transfer of government funds worth ~800 crore to accounts of an NGO in Bhagalpur district. A notification for the probe was issued on Thursday by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.

The scam took place between 2007 and 2013 when BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi was the finance minister though the government says NGO Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti was authorised to transfer funds in 2003 when RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi was the chief minister.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar ordered a CBI probe into the scam last week as he moved quickly to rob the Opposition of an opportunity to question his policy of zero tolerance on corruption.

The CM decided to hand over the case to the central agency after a high-level review meeting with chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, DGP P K Thakur, principal secretary (home) Amir Subhani and IG, economic offence unit, Jitendra Singh Gangwar.

An initial probe has revealed involvement of nationalised banks, government officials and employees in the fraudulent withdrawal of government funds in three districts of Bhagalpur, Banka and Saharsa. Alarmed over the magnitude of the scam, chief secretary has asked all district magistrates to get their accounts checked thoroughly.