JHARKHAND TREASURY SCAM

JHARKHAND TREASURY SCAM

14-APRIL-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA--------------------------The Jharkhand government has decided to take major action regarding irregularities within the state treasury. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore has announced that every single withdrawal made from the treasury since the formation of the state (in 2000) will undergo a meticulous investigation. Following discussions with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and adopting a 'zero tolerance' policy, the government has made it clear that every single rupee will be recovered from the culprits by liquidating their movable and immovable assets.

A special team, headed by an IAS officer, will be constituted to investigate the major scams that have surfaced in Bokaro and Hazaribagh; this team will also include experts from the office of the Accountant General (AG). Preparations are underway to transfer the cases registered in various districts to the CID to ensure that the entire network of corruption is exposed. A total of 33 treasuries across the state's 24 districts currently fall under the scope of this investigation.

The Ranchi Treasury is also under scrutiny, where police salary payments made over the last three years are currently being reviewed. While preliminary investigations have not revealed any irregularities, a three-tier security protocol has now been implemented as a precautionary measure for all future payments disbursed from the treasury. The government has stated that a comprehensive cleansing of the entire system will now be ensured.