Last Updated on June 30, 2026 10:23 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
By Inder Vashisth /New Delhi
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Haryana cadre IAS officer Pardeep Kumar, former Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), in connection with the alleged misappropriation of ₹169 crore, part of a wider ₹504-crore government fund embezzlement case involving multiple state departments.
According to the CBI, Pardeep Kumar allegedly played a key role in the diversion of HSPCB funds during his tenure as Member Secretary. Investigators claim he oversaw the investment process and authorised the transfer of government funds well beyond the prescribed limits to an account at IDFC First Bank’s Sector-32 branch in Chandigarh, purportedly for the creation of Fixed Deposits (FDs).
The agency alleges that although the funds were transferred on the pretext of investing them in Fixed Deposits, no FDs were ever created. Instead, investigators say the money was siphoned off through fraudulent debit transactions, causing an estimated loss of nearly ₹169 crore to the Haryana Government. The CBI said this represents the largest alleged loss among the eight government departments linked to the broader ₹504-crore scam.
The investigation has also found that the bank account used for the transactions was allegedly opened without any documented approval from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board. According to the agency, officials were unable to produce records authorising either the opening of the account or the transfer of funds.
The CBI said Pardeep Kumar repeatedly failed to join the investigation despite being summoned. He was arrested after investigators traced his location.
With this arrest, Pardeep Kumar becomes the third IAS officer taken into custody in the ongoing investigation. Earlier, the agency arrested former Principal Secretary Pankaj Aggarwal in connection with the alleged misappropriation of ₹60.54 crore belonging to the Haryana School Education and Agriculture Departments. Former Panchkula Municipal Commissioner Ram Kumar Singh was also arrested over the alleged diversion of ₹79.46 crore.
According to the CBI, the overall case concerns the alleged diversion of ₹504 crore belonging to eight Haryana Government departments. Investigators allege that the funds were fraudulently transferred through fake or non-existent Fixed Deposits and forged debit instruments before being routed to shell companies and fictitious entities.
So far, the agency has filed charge sheets against 17 accused, including six officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three Haryana Government officials, two companies and six private individuals.
The CBI is also investigating two related Chandigarh-based financial irregularity cases involving Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) and CREST Chandigarh. Charge sheets have already been filed in both matters. In the CSCL case, the agency has named five bank officials, one CSCL official and a private individual as accused. In the CREST case, five bank officials, two CREST officials, four private individuals and two companies have been charge-sheeted. Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Navneet Srivastava had earlier been arrested in connection with the CREST investigation.
The investigation into the alleged multi-crore diversion of government funds remains ongoing, and the allegations against the accused are yet to be tested in court.