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Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday strongly defended the suspension of two IAS officers in connection with the multi-crore bank scams, asserting that his government follows a “zero tolerance for corruption” policy inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media, Saini said the government was accountable to the people as the मामला involved public money, adding, “This government runs on the tradition set up by PM Modi. We are answerable to the people of Haryana.”

Scams Under Scanner

The Chief Minister was referring to two major cases:

• The ₹590-crore scam involving IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank
• The ₹150-crore scam linked to Kotak Mahindra Bank involving Municipal Corporation Panchkula funds

Saini claimed that the government acted swiftly, stating that in the IDFC First and AU Small Finance Bank case, “the money was recovered within 24 hours.” He added that funds in the Kotak Mahindra Bank case had also been returned, though officials indicate that only ₹127 crore (principal amount) has been recovered so far.

Action Taken by Government

Following the scams, the state government:

• Suspended two IAS officers — Pardeep Kumar and Ram Kumar Singh
• Ordered a high-level inquiry led by the Principal Secretary to the CM and Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Arun Kumar Gupta
• Initiated investigations through the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB)

So far:

• 15 arrests have been made in the IDFC First and AU Small Finance Bank case
• 6 accused have been arrested in the Kotak Mahindra Bank scam

The ₹590-crore case is now being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Modus Operandi of Fraud

Investigations have revealed a pattern of fraudulent banking operations, including:

• Creation of fake fixed deposits (FDRs)
• Use of shell entities and unauthorised accounts
• Fictitious transactions to siphon off government funds

In the Kotak Mahindra Bank case, discrepancies surfaced when Municipal Corporation Panchkula’s 16 fixed deposits worth ₹145.03 crore did not match bank records. Statements provided by the bank reportedly conflicted with official records, raising red flags of large-scale financial manipulation.

Administrative Fallout

While several officers earlier saw their portfolios reshuffled, only two IAS officers have been suspended so far, signalling selective but firm accountability measures by the government. Saini reiterated that the government would continue to take strict action, saying the focus remains on protecting public funds, ensuring transparency, and restoring public trust in the system.