Months after the multi-crore IDFC First Bank financial scandal shook the Haryana government, another episode of alleged irregularities in the handling of public funds and their deposit in private sector banks without the approval of competent authority has surfaced.
A high-level committee, led by additional chief secretary (ACS) of finance Arun Gupta, to review the state’s banking policy and unauthorised fund transfers, was set up after the IDFC First Bank scandal. The committee recommended that quotations for FDs be invited from all empanelled banks, and that a comparative statement be prepared by the seniormost accounts officer posted. This officer will make recommendations in accordance with the prescribed guidelines, and the proposal shall be approved by the head of the office. Vashisht further wrote that if the existing FDs are prematurely cancelled, then this premature liquidation will impose substantial interest loss, which is direct and avoidable loss to the government exchequer. “Directions have been issued to all the concerned banks to inform this office immediately about the status of the above FDRs and that they must not prematurely liquidate FDRs without prior permission of the competent authority,’’ the DC wrote. The DC has also sought to know whether these FDRs should be continued or prematurely cancelled, and immediately new FDRs made. “Prevailing rates of interest were obtained from various authorised banks through the lead district manager of PNB, Panipat. After the receipt of the interest rates from the authorised banks, the process for finalising the bank-wise allocation and amount to be deposited, keeping in view the respective rates of interest offered by the banks, was completed.
The DC, however, in a September 10 communication to the ACS, development and panchayats wrote: “Going through all the relevant record, it has been found that sarpanch gram panchayat Bal Jattan and Khandra had created fixed deposit in various banks without intimation and permission from the undersigned (the DC himself). The DC’s communication said that following the receipt of money in the savings bank accounts of the panchayats, the process for creating FDs with banks authorised by the finance department’s instructions dated May 18, 2026, was initiated. The proposal was duly considered and approved on file on August 24, 2026,” the DC wrote.
Panipat DC Harish Vashisht, when asked about the alleged irregularities, said that the government is investigating the matter.
