ACB raids house of retired official in Panchkula, seizes Rs 3.65 crore

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Faridabad, has recovered Rs 3.65 crore in cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 6.5 lakh from the residence of a retired Section Officer in Sector 26, Panchkula. The raid was part of an investigation into an alleged Rs 50 crore embezzlement involving the Block Development and Panchayat Office (BDPO), Hasanpur, Palwal district.

Shamsher Singh, who retired from the Development and Panchayat Department in November 2024, was arrested on Monday in connection with the case. Following his arrest, a search of his house revealed cash hidden in cupboards and beds in multiple rooms. Gold ornaments worth Rs 6.5 lakh were also recovered. The ACB sought assistance from Punjab National Bank staff to count the cash using note-counting machines. The counting process, which began on Monday evening, concluded early Tuesday morning.

Rs 50 cr embezzlement case

Shamsher Singh, a retired official of the Development and Panchayat Department, was arrested on Monday in connection with Rs 50 cr embezzlement case. He and Satpal, an employee of the treasury office at Hodal in Palwal, were presented before the Additional Sessions Judge in Faridabad, who sent them in the police remand until February 2

The investigation began after the Director of the Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana, filed a complaint citing an audit report by the Principal Accountant General, Haryana. The report revealed alleged unauthorised transfers of substantial funds from the login ID of the Chief Accounts Officer to create fake bills for payments to M/s Deepak Manpower Service, amounting to an alleged fraud of Rs 50 crore.

As part of the investigation, the ACB arrested Rakesh, a clerk in the BDPO Hasanpur office, on January 25. On Monday, two more accused were arrested: Satpal, an employee of the treasury office at Hodal in Palwal, and Shamsher Singh, who retired as Section Officer from the Development and Panchayat Department in November 2024.

Shamsher Singh and Satpal were presented before the Additional Sessions Judge in Faridabad, who approved their police remand until February 2. According to information by authorities, the police registered a case under Sections 43, 66C of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(2), 318(4), 336(3), 338, and 61 of the Indian Justice Code, 2023. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Sections 7 and 13(2)13(1)(A)), was also invoked against the BDPO office, a private firm M/s Deepak Manpower Service, and other unknown officials and private individuals allegedly involved in the scam.