Our Bureau/

For the first time some AIS officials who earlier had posted at Bhagalpur in capacity of district magistrates (DMs) or Deputy Development commissioners (DDCs) appeared at the makeshift camp office of CBI here to answer the questions related to Srijan scam.

Earlier speculations were ripe over the attitude of CBI for overviewing the apparent involvements of the DM and other higher official concerned in the much talked Srijan scam. However with the interrogations of some of the former DMs and other official concerned, such confusions which prevailing in the public domain gradually reducing.

However soon with the joining of the CBI, SP, Kiran S here at CBI’s makeshift office at the campus of BAU, Sabour, the investigating agency has geared up for interrogations and other related works. Within last 2-3 days some IAS officers (former DMs and DDCs of Bhagalpur) along with officials concerned and bankers were interrogated. The marathon interrogation starts from morning hours which continued up to late evenings.

DM, Dwarbhanga, Chandrasekher Singh (was DDC here), Gajanan Mishra (was DDC here), Bipin Kumar (former DM), DM, Lakhisarai, Amit Kumar (former DDC) along with dozens of officers, bankers and other suspected persons were thoroughly grilled by the CBI officers here. Interestingly not a single officer even some local business men who were summoned for interrogations remained tightlipped when reporters asked them to have confirmation of their interrogations by CBI.

In another development , amid high voltage drama, district administration last night registered another FIR with Tilka Manjhi PS here against the embezzlement of Rs 21,98,90,241/- from district Nazarat with connivance of local branch of Indian bank and Srijan NGO. CBI team under the leadership of a SP rank officials has speeded up interrogations in which several IAS officers (former DMs and DDCs) along with other officer concerned including bank personnel appeared before the CBI here.

According to SSP, Bhagalpur, Manoj Kumar the FIR was registered by Jitendra Sha, in-charge of district Nazarat in which allegations were leveled against the concerned persons of Indian bank and Srijan for the wrongfully withdrawal of government money. District Nazarat has three old and three new accounts with Indian bank, illegal withdrawn of government money had taken place from the old accounts while illegal deposits were done into new accounts.

Till now, illegal withdrawing of more than Rs 222 crore from district Nazarat has been reported and four FIRs have been so far been registered with PSs here.

Rs 16.50 was illegally withdrawn from such one old account (90781) along with another amount of Rs 4.80 crore from another old account (90313). While Rs 16.94 crore was deposited into  another new account (548689983) by Srijan NGO. Apart from the cheque of Rs 7.45 lakh which was sent to the bank from deposit, was did not deposit in the account of district Nazarat in Indian bank. Interestingly enough, Rs 4.67 crore was deposited to the account of district Nazarat with Indian bank from unknown source, mainly from Srijan NGO. Rs 11.45 Lakh was  withdrawn by district Nazarat  from  that amount of Rs 4.67 crore but did not mention in the transaction list in that account.

Similarly, over Rs 50 lakh was illegally withdrawn from an old account (90315) and illegal deposit of Rs 34 lakh has been reported to a new account (548685377). In  the FIR it is alleged that all such illegal withdrawals and deposits were  time to time from 2008-2016 and the role of concerned bankers and official concerned could not be ruled out. The entire matter of such bungling of government funds was came to the knowledge recently during internal  department wise audits initiated by DM, Bhagalpur, Adesh Titarmare.

After a prolong drama, the FIR finally registered with Tilka Manjhi PS last night.  According to sources, earlier some 10-12 days ago the FIR was ready and was scheduled to be registered but since the office superintendent (OS) of Bhagalpur district collectorate, Nandkishore Malviya refused to signed on it as witness, the matter get delayed. The complainant in the FIR, Jitendra Sha, in-charge of district Nazarat earlier in a letter to DM, Bhagalpur had alleged the noncooperation by the officer. DM, Bhagalpur too directed the proceeding for suspension against Malviya for his attitude. On the otherhand, Malviya said that since there are sufficient officials in the office, why in every time he was picked up for such works. Malviya who would get retirement after some four month, does not want to involve in such case in which he would have to visit CBI courts frequently during trail of the cases.

“One more FIR from district Nazarat is likely to be scheduled soon besides we expect few more FIRs against Srijan and concerning bankers for embezzlements of government money in the course of Srijan scam,” revealed a top ranking district official.