A fresh twist may be emerging in the investigation into the alleged Rs 661-crore bank fund diversion case linked to government departments in Haryana, with indications that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is examining the possibility of relying on insider testimony to strengthen its case.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the agency is evaluating whether a senior Haryana cadre bureaucrat could assist investigators by providing details about administrative decisions, banking procedures, and the movement of public funds that are under scrutiny in the case.
The development comes shortly after the CBI widened its investigation beyond Haryana and Chandigarh, carrying out searches at multiple locations in the National Capital Region as part of its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities involving deposits maintained with IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank.
Investigators believe that understanding how departmental accounts were operated, how fixed deposits were structured, and how funds moved between various entities could prove crucial in establishing accountability. Officials are examining documentary and digital evidence collected during recent searches to reconstruct the chain of transactions.
The agency recently conducted coordinated searches linked to serving and former officials, besides examining records connected with a private company in Noida that has come under the scanner during the investigation. Financial records, electronic devices, and other documents seized during the operation are being analysed.
The alleged scam was initially investigated by Haryana’s anti-corruption authorities before being handed over to the CBI. Since then, the probe has expanded significantly, with investigators looking into the role of public servants, banking officials, and private entities.
The Enforcement Directorate is also conducting a parallel investigation into the financial trail associated with the case. Officials are examining whether public money was routed through multiple accounts before reaching its final destination.
Several officials have already come under scrutiny as part of the investigation. The Haryana government has granted sanction under relevant anti-corruption provisions to facilitate investigation against certain officers whose names surfaced during the inquiry.
Sources said investigators believe insider cooperation could help connect administrative decisions with financial transactions and provide a clearer picture of how the alleged irregularities were carried out. However, no official announcement has been made regarding any decision to make an officer a government witness.
With the investigation entering a crucial phase, agencies are expected to intensify efforts to identify the individuals responsible and determine the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities.