Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The ₹30 crore withdrawal scam in the Water Supply Department may be exposed through an investigation of the Messengers Register, which is used to send bills for treasury withdrawals. The Finance Department’s preliminary investigation had initially held DDO Prabhat Kumar and others prima facie guilty. However, the FIR was only lodged against the accountant (cashier), while departmental action was initiated against the engineers instead of filing criminal charges.
Scam Unfolded Through JNNURM Pipeline Project
The ₹30 crore withdrawal was facilitated through multiple fabricated bills. The Urban Development Department originally conceptualized the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and transferred funds to the Water and Sanitation Department for pipeline installation. L&T was appointed as the executing agency for the project.
However, during the implementation, a fraudulent scheme was executed to withdraw ₹30 crore from the treasury. Instead of L&T receiving the payment, the amount was transferred to the bank account of the accountant, Santosh Kumar. Upon detecting the irregularities, a preliminary investigation led to an FIR being lodged against the cashier at Sadar Police Station in 2023.
Engineers Escape Criminal Charges, Cashier in Jail
Surprisingly, instead of registering FIRs against the engineers involved, the department chose to take internal disciplinary action. As a result, the engineers walked free while the cashier landed in jail. The Finance Department’s initial investigation had found engineers Chandra Shekhar, Radheshyam Ravi, and lower-division clerk Sanjay Kumar guilty.
These engineers were directly involved in the fraudulent transactions. Prabhat Kumar, the DDO, was responsible for signing off on treasury withdrawals, making it nearly impossible for the funds to be transferred without his approval. However, he claimed innocence, stating that his signature had been forged.
Messengers Register Holds the Key to Truth
A thorough examination of the Messengers Register could uncover the truth behind the forgery claims. This register records:
• Bill numbers and withdrawal amounts
• DDO’s signatures on treasury withdrawals
• Sample signatures stored in the treasury for verification
Each treasury withdrawal follows a signature-matching process before approval. If Prabhat Kumar’s signature was forged in the first instance, he should have noticed the discrepancy upon the second withdrawal.
What Next?
With the Messengers Register under scrutiny, the scope of the investigation could expand to reveal who authorized the fraudulent transactions and whether there was systematic manipulation at higher levels. The findings will determine if additional officials and engineers should face legal action.
