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The Haryana government recovered Rs 556 crore, including interest, in 24 hours after suspicious transactions in IDFC First Bank. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini handed over the case to the Anti-Corruption Bureau while assuring strict action.
Haryana Govt Pulls Back ₹556 Crore, ACB Steps In (Image Source: Internet)
Chandigarh: Making a big disclosure in the Haryana Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the entire amount of the state government deposited in IDFC First Bank has been withdrawn along with interest within just 24 hours. He said that as soon as information about suspicious transactions came to light, the government took prompt action and recovered the entire money.
The Chief Minister clarified in the House that till Monday evening the bank has returned about Rs 556 crore to the government's accounts. This amount also includes interest of about Rs 22 crore. "The entire money has been returned with interest. Recovery has been ensured within 24 hours," Saini said.
The chief minister said that this discrepancy was detected due to the vigilance of the departments after differences were found between the bank statements and government records. As soon as the discrepancy came to light, the government de-empaneled IDFC First Bank on February 18, after which the recovery process was expedited.
According to Saini, some employees of the bank's Chandigarh branch are suspected to be involved in the fraud. He said this illegal activity was allegedly carried out by “middle-rank officers."
Adopting a tough stance in the House, the Chief Minister said that whoever is found guilty in this matter—be it a bank employee, a private person, or a government official—strict action will be taken against him. He said, "Nobody can cast an evil eye on government money." Whoever commits a mistake will get the strictest punishment."
He also reiterated that gone are the days when scams were hushed up. The government will take action with complete transparency, and responsibility will be fixed.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, it has been officially handed over to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Besides, a high-level committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the finance secretary, which will conduct a forensic investigation and decide full accountability.
The chief minister assured that the state government will not make any compromise in the matter of financial discipline and transparency. This prompt action shows the vigilance and accountability of the administration.
