CBI Arrests Senior IAS Officer Pankaj Aggarwal in Haryana Fund Misappropriation Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested senior IAS officer Pankaj Aggarwal in connection with the alleged misappropriation of government funds from accounts of the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (HSSPP) and the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB). The accounts were maintained at the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh.

Aggarwal, who was then Principal Secretary of the School Education and Agriculture departments, was arrested on June 22 and is being produced before a court on Tuesday. The case was taken over by the CBI on a reference from the Haryana Government.

According to the agency, its investigation found that the accounts of the two departments were opened in violation of Haryana Finance Department guidelines. Funds were subsequently transferred to these accounts beyond prescribed limits, leading to the alleged fraud.

The arrest comes after the collection of incriminating evidence during the investigation. The CBI has not yet disclosed the exact amount involved but described it as a multi-crore fraud.

This case highlights concerns about financial oversight in state government departments. The Haryana government's reference to the CBI indicates a serious breach of financial procedures. Further details are expected as the court proceedings unfold.