Audit dept gives details of funds transferred illegally from DRDA

THE DETAILS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE RECENTLY BY INDIAN AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT

BHAGALPUR: In connection with multi-crore financial scam here, the Indian audit and accounts department have made available the details of funds which were illegally transferred to Srijan Mahila Sahyog Samiti from District Rural Development Authority (DRDA).

Based on contents of draft report of AG audit undertaken after scam came to light, the details have been forwarded to the district magistrate recently by Indian audit and accounts department.

Earlier on July 16, the local administration through a letter had approached principal accountant general, Bihar, for details related to illegal transfer of funds to women cooperative society from DRDA.

In fact the draft audit report concerning transfer of funds from different departments had been made available in past by audit and accounts department.

However, as authorities of some of the departments from where fund had been parked in account of Srijan felt the details of actual amount that were illegally transferred to Srijan is not clear in draft report of audit AG was approached for fresh details.

The authorities had expressed their inability to get clarity from draft report actual amount that was transferred to Srijan at meeting convened last month by district magistrate to review compliance of the directives given by general administration department in light of audit findings.

An official, who did not wanted to be named, said it was in course of discussion in meeting that some authorities had pointed out lack of clarity in audit projections related to actual amount transferred to Srijan.

Taking into consideration what was pointed out by the authorities the district magistrate had directed them to approach AG office for details of audit findings, official informed.

The DRDA is first to receive the details among departments that have written to provide details of audit findings. It is now two years since the financial scam here came to light in August 2017.

The volume of the scam is estimated to be more than ₹1,300 crore.

The scam came to light after a District Urban Development Authority (DUDA) cheque of ₹10.32 crore issued by district magistrate bounced.

Subsequent enquiry revealed from different government departments funds running into crores was transferred directly as well as through banks. Initially probe of the scam was undertaken by EOU-SIT team. CBI entrusted responsibility of probe subsequently is yet to conclude investigation.