CBI beats 90-day deadline, files 10k-page chargesheet in Hry bank scam

Chandigarh: The CBI on Thursday filed its first chargesheet running into approximately 10,000 pages in the multi-crore fraud involving the siphoning of govt funds from IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank.A CBI team submitted the chargesheet, annexures, and supporting documents in eight steel trunks before special CBI judge Vijayant Sehgal in Chandigarh. The court has directed staff to scrutinise the records and submit a formal report. According to sources, the chargesheet names 15 accused, many of whom were initially arrested by the Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau starting Feb 23. The filing was time-critical as some accused were nearing 90 days in custody on May 23, after which they would have been eligible for default bail. Those charged include key officials from the Chandigarh branches of IDFC First and AU Small Finance Bank, former employees of the Haryana development and panchayat department and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited, and private individuals, including the owner of Sawan Jewellers and builder Vikram Wadhwa. The CBI has intensified its probe regarding the role of senior bureaucracy. Haryana govt sources said prosecution sanctions have been granted against eight IAS officers — five approved last week and three earlier this week. CBI teams reportedly questioned two officers separately over the last 48 hours. Originally pegged at Rs 504 crore, the alleged misappropriation has been revised upward to nearly Rs 593 crore. Investigators suspect funds were diverted through a criminal conspiracy between bank officials and public servants. The accused face charges including criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is running a parallel probe into shell companies used to launder the proceeds. On Thursday, the court remanded accused Rishav Rishi and Abhay Kumar to judicial custody following the completion of their 10-day ED remand.