Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The BJP has once again raised the multi-crore treasury scam in the state, with party’s state spokesperson, Pratul Shahdeo, accusing the government of shielding its favoured senior officials behind the scam.
Shahdeo noted that the state’s Finance Minister himself has admitted that government funds amounting to approximately ₹10,000 crore from the past few years remain unaccounted for. The BJP has consistently suspected that the government is intent on protecting its preferred officers.
Even the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted for the probe included officers who served as Superintendents of Police (SPs) during the time the treasury scam occurred. Two members of the investigating SIT had previously served as SPs in Hazaribagh and Bokaro—districts where charge sheets regarding the scam have already been filed; consequently, an impartial investigation cannot be expected from them.
By apprehending only “small fish,” the government has effectively shielded senior officers, allowing them to benefit improperly. He recalled that in the Fodder Scam cases, the CBI court had convicted treasury officers, acknowledging their role—a verdict subsequently upheld by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Citing Sections 114, 115, 116, 305, 305A, and 306 of the Jharkhand Financial Rules, as well as Appendices 3, 18, and 19 of the Jharkhand Treasury Code (2016), BJP chief spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo stated that the responsibilities of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and treasury officers regarding the withdrawal of government funds are clearly defined. It is the duty of the concerned DDOs and treasury officers to verify the validity of bills, documents, and signatures; any suspicion necessitates an investigation. Officials are expected to exercise utmost caution when authorizing payments of government funds.
He further pointed out that when the CID filed its charge sheet, it gave a clean chit to all the DDOs and treasury officers, omitting their names entirely from the list of accused. In the Chaibasa treasury scam as well, the CID has named only constables. In Jharkhand, whenever a scam needs to be hushed up, the investigation is handed over to the CID so it can be consigned to cold storage.
The state government had recommended a special audit to the Principal Accountant General. Acting on this, the Principal Accountant General wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department on May 11, 2026, requesting 87 types of documents. More than two months have passed, yet the state government has failed to provide these documents.
Similarly, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted under the leadership of the Excise Secretary has also not submitted any investigation report so far. The state government is intent on burying the entire matter. It seems to have forgotten that Lalu Prasad was convicted in six cases on charges related to attempts to hush up the Fodder Scam.
