Govt officials, Srijan founder named in first charge sheet
PATNA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the ~1,400-crore fund transfer scam in Bihar, filed its first chargesheet against seven people, including Manorma Devi (since dead), founder-director of Srijan Mahila Vikas Samiti that is allegedly involved in the financial fraud.
The chargesheet was submitted in the court of special CBI judicial magistrate-cumadditional chief judicial magistrate Gayatri Kumari in Patna on Wednesday under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.
The others named in the chargesheet, filed by CBI inspector and investigating officer Yasir Arafat, are Bhagalpur’s land acquisition officers Rakesh Kumar Jha and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Bank of Baroda senior manager Barun Kumar Singh, Indian Bank accountant Ajay Kumar Pandey, retired branch manager of Bank of Baroda Arun Kumar Singh and nazir of district board`s nazareth Rakesh Kumar.
Special public prosecutor of CBI Akhtar Hussain Khan said land acquisition officers Rakesh Kumar Jha and Rajiv Ranjan Singh were evading arrest. Manorma Devi died of illness at the age of 65 on February 13, while the other four accused named in the chargesheet are lodged in jail.
More chargesheet in the case was likely soon as the role of cooperative registrar Satish Kumar Jha, Srijan Mahila Vikas Samiti`s office-bearer Sarita Jha, Bhagalpur district magistrate’s steno Prem Kumar, Bank of Baroda officer Atul Ranjan and alleged middleman Vanshidhar Jha was also under investigation.
The scam involving Srijan Mahila Vikas Samiti, a cooperative society based at Sabour in Bhagalpur district, 240 km east of Patna, came to light when a district urban development authority (DUDA) cheque for ~10.32 crore, issued by the district magistrate under the Mukahyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, bounced due to lack of funds.
The CBI took over the investigation of the scam on August 25 after chief minister Nitish Kumar recommended a probe by the premier investigating agency.
The size and scope of the scam has be increasing by the day and so far diversion of more than Rs 1,400-crore fund from various departments in Bhagalpur, Banka and Saharsa districts in east Bihar to the Srijan has been detected.
Sixteen FIRs have been registered at different police stations of Bhagalpur, Banka and Saharsa districts. So far 19 police complaints have been lodged and 18 accused arrested.
One of the accused Mahesh Mandal, the father of a Janata Dal (United) leader, died while undergoing treatment in judicial custody.
“Out of 19 complaints, 12 have been transferred to the CBI. The other seven FIRs are related to embezzlement of funds at block levels and they will be handed over to CBI soon,” said an official at the state police headquarters.