Rs 100-crore cooperative project scam in Haryana; 14 held

Chandigarh, February 2

The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has busted a major scam in the Integrated Cooperative Development Project, unearthing a Rs 100 crore “corruption racket”. Fourteen persons, including 10 senior officials and four private individuals, have been arrested.

Funds embezzled

• Assistant registrars and district registrars allegedly colluded with an auditor to embezzle funds
• Funds “embezzled” to buy flats, land & other assets
• Ten government officials among 14 persons arrested

A government spokesperson said the ACB team, upon investigation, exposed the scam where assistant registrars and district registrars of cooperative societies allegedly colluded with an auditor and misappropriated funds for personal gain. They allegedly misused government funds deposited in official accounts to purchase flats, land and other assets, the ACB said in a statement.

“These officials further attempted to cover their tracks by forging government documents and bank details. Cases have been registered under various sections in Karnal and Ambala range,” it said.

Those arrested include Audit Officer Balwinder, Deputy Chief Auditor Yogendra Aggarwal; District Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Karnal, Rohit Gupta; Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies Anu Koshish; Ram Kumar, Jitendra Kaushik and Krishna Beniwal. ICDP-Rewari’s Accountant Sumit Aggarwal, Development Officer Nitin Sharma and Vijay Singh were also arrested. Stalin Jeet, Natasha Kaushik, Subhash and Rekha are the four private individuals currently in custody.

The Cooperation Department of Haryana operates the Integrated Cooperative Development Project, focusing on development in rural and agricultural areas through various programmes and the development of cooperative societies.