CBI Raids At 6 Locations In Rs 661 Crore Haryana-Chandigarh Government Fund Scam Case

Federal investigators are probing an elaborate financial diversion scheme involving top banks and public funds across Haryana and Chandigarh.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a high-stakes search operation across six locations in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and the Delhi-NCR region on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in the probe into an alleged ₹661 crore government fund scam. This investigation targets a sophisticated network of collusion that reportedly siphoned public money meant for various state-run departments through private consultancy channels.

The Mechanics of the Alleged Diversion

At the heart of the case is the systematic misappropriation of funds belonging to eight different departments of the Haryana Government and two departments under the Chandigarh Administration. Investigators believe that public money was illicitly transferred into accounts maintained at IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank. The CBI alleges that the diversion was not a standalone incident but a calculated operation requiring the complicity of government officials and bank personnel to bypass standard financial safeguards.

Consultancy Firm Under Scrutiny

A primary focus of the raids was the Noida-based Vipam Consultancy Private Limited. Agency officials suspect that the firm acted as a conduit for the stolen capital. Preliminary findings indicate that proceeds from the fraud were routed through the consultancy’s business accounts before being funneled directly into the personal accounts of its director. In exchange for facilitating these transfers, investigators suggest that several government officials received kickbacks, turning a public-funded development project into a source of private enrichment.

Why This Matters

For taxpayers, this case highlights a critical vulnerability in the integration of private banking services with government treasury operations. By involving entities like IDFC First Bank and AU Finance Bank, the alleged perpetrators exploited the trust placed in these institutions to move large sums of public money under the radar. As the CBI continues to pore over seized documents and digital evidence, the case raises urgent questions about the lack of internal oversight and audit trails within inter-departmental fund transfers.

As the probe intensifies, the agency is expected to summon key personnel from both the involved banks and the consultancy firm. The breadth of the operation, spanning multiple states and involving top-tier financial institutions, underscores the scale of the financial irregularities the CBI is currently tasked with unraveling. While the investigation is still in its early stages, the involvement of senior government officials suggests that further arrests may follow as the paper trail is traced to its source.