Jharkhand flags treasury irregularities, BJP and Congress spar

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Jharkhand after the State Finance Department flagged alleged treasury irregularities involving salary withdrawals in Hazaribag and Bokaro, triggering a sharp exchange between the BJP and the Congress.

In an official communication, the department reported alleged illegal withdrawals of Rs 15,41,41,485 from the Superintendent of Police’s office in Hazaribag over the past eight years, and Rs 3,15,33,993 from the Bokaro SP’s office between May 2024 and Dec 2025.

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The letter pointed to serious procedural lapses, including salary payments to retired or non-serving personnel, inadequate verification of employee records, and irregularities in authentication and approval processes. It also noted that in some cases, OTP verification for bill preparation and withdrawal approval was linked to the same mobile number, and that OTPs were allegedly being shared, raising questions over internal controls.

The Finance Department has directed all deputy commissioners, senior superintendents of police, superintendents of police, treasury officers and sub-treasury officers in the state to tighten verification before salary bills are processed. The safeguards include mandatory checking of employee identity, service status, date of birth, and bank account details before disbursement.

Reacting strongly to the issue, BJP spokesperson Ajay Sah demanded a judicial or CBI probe, alleging that such repeated withdrawals could not have taken place without collusion at multiple levels.

He said the matter appeared “far more serious” than it was being presented and claimed that a fair and independent investigation could expose a wider organised nexus behind the irregularities.

The Congress, however, accused the BJP of trying to turn the issue into a political spectacle. Pradesh Congress general secretary and media in-charge Rakesh Sinha said the opposition was attempting to use central agencies as political tools and derail the state’s development narrative.

He said the state government had already ordered an inquiry and maintained that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty after investigation.

Sinha also alleged that repeated references to agencies such as the ED by BJP leaders reflected political pressure rather than a commitment to a fair and transparent inquiry.

The issue has now assumed both administrative and political significance, with the Finance Department’s communication exposing serious gaps in treasury verification and payment systems, even as political parties continue to trade charges over accountability and intent.