J’khand Animal husbandry department accountant held for ‘siphoning off’ Rs 3 cr from salary account

Ranchi, Apr 16 (PTI) An accountant with the animal husbandry department in Jharkhand has been arrested for allegedly siphoning off around Rs 3 crore by “manipulating salary accounts”, police said on Thursday.
    The accused was apprehended on Wednesday, following a case lodged by Executive Magistrate Md Zafar Hasnat on April 14 at the Kotwali police station, they said.
    “The accountant was associated with the Institute of Animal Health and Production in Ranchi’s Kanke, and had been allegedly manipulating salary accounts to embezzle funds,” said Sanoj Choudhary, the officer in-charge of Kotwali police station.
    Preliminary investigation has revealed that the amount was withdrawn between the financial years 2023-24 and 2025-26 by “tampering” with salary bills and inflating his actual salary figures, another officer said.
    Further investigation is underway, Choudhary said.
    Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore had recently ordered a statewide probe after investigations revealed that over Rs 6 crore was allegedly withdrawn from a treasury salary account in Bokaro by a police department accountant, who has been arrested.
    Later, five people were arrested in connection with the Hazaribag SP office treasury scam, with the alleged embezzlement amount rising to Rs 28 crore, officials said.
    Chief Minister Hemant Soren had on Wednesday said his government has taken allegations of fake salary withdrawals from government treasuries very seriously, and a detailed investigation is underway.
    "It came to light that some withdrawals were made improperly and irregularities have been identified. The government has taken this matter very seriously. Several people have already been identified," Soren had told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)