Listen To This Post
Chandigarh: In a major administrative action, the Haryana government has suspended two senior IAS officers in connection with the ₹590 crore scam involving IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, as investigations into one of the state’s biggest financial frauds gather pace.
The officers suspended with immediate effect are Ram Kumar Singh (HY:2012), who was serving as Additional CEO of Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority and in the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, and Pardeep Kumar (HY:2011), Director of State Transport and Special Secretary to the Transport Department.
During the suspension period, both officers will remain attached to the office of the Chief Secretary (Services-I Branch) in Chandigarh.
Background: Multi-Crore Civic Funds Scam
The action comes amid an expanding investigation into the ₹590 crore scam linked to alleged financial irregularities in civic and government funds parked in bank accounts. The case is being probed for fraudulent fixed deposits, forged documentation, and diversion of public money through unauthorised transactions.
Preliminary findings indicate that funds belonging to government bodies were allegedly siphoned off through fake fixed deposit receipts (FDRs), shell accounts, and forged authorisations, raising serious concerns about systemic lapses in financial oversight.
The scam surfaced following discrepancies in bank records and official accounts, where the actual balances did not match documented deposits, triggering complaints and a subsequent investigation.
Link to Wider Financial Irregularities
The case is being seen as part of a larger pattern of financial fraud involving municipal and government funds in Haryana and neighbouring regions. Investigations have already pointed to similar irregularities in other bank-linked cases, including those involving civic bodies.
Agencies are probing possible collusion among bank officials, intermediaries, and government insiders, with multiple arrests and interrogations already carried out in related cases.
Administrative Action and Next Steps
The suspension of the two IAS officers signals a tightening of accountability at the highest administrative levels, as the government seeks to demonstrate zero tolerance towards corruption involving public funds.
Sources indicate that further action, including departmental proceedings and potential criminal liability, may follow depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The case continues to unfold, with investigators focusing on tracing the money trail, identifying additional beneficiaries, and establishing the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.
