Ranchi/Hazaribag: The suspected salary fraud within Jharkhand’s police establishment is widening rapidly, with fresh financial irregularities of over ₹15 crore detected in Hazaribag, soon after a major treasury scam surfaced in Bokaro.
State Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore acknowledged the latest findings and announced a comprehensive audit of all treasuries and sub-treasuries across Jharkhand to trace similar discrepancies.
Audit Triggered After Bokaro Fallout
The wider review comes in the aftermath of the Bokaro treasury fraud, where funds were allegedly diverted using the identities of retired police personnel. Following that case, district authorities were directed to scrutinise financial records, leading to the Hazaribag detection.
Initial findings indicate large-scale unauthorized withdrawals, with officials already freezing multiple suspicious accounts as the investigation gathers pace.
Government Points to Lapses
Calling the situation serious, the Finance Minister flagged gaps in oversight mechanisms, noting that routine inspections meant to prevent such fraud appear to have failed.
Organised Racket Suspected
Investigators believe the fraud may not be isolated, but part of a broader, organised network embedded within the police accounts system. The earlier Bokaro मामले—where an accountant was arrested for siphoning funds over an extended period—has already raised red flags about systemic vulnerabilities.
Pressure Mounts for Wider Probe
Amid growing concern within the force, the Jharkhand Police Association has urged the state’s top police leadership to launch a comprehensive probe covering all districts and units.
With audits now underway statewide, authorities expect more discrepancies to surface, suggesting the scam could be significantly larger than initially estimated.
