Chandigarh, 23 July (H.S.): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out searches at five locations in Chandigarh and Ludhiana as part of its probe into the alleged misuse of funds from the IDFC FIRST Bank accounts of Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) and the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh.

According to a CBI spokesperson, the raids were conducted at the residences and business premises of suspected beneficiaries, the premises of CSCL employee Anubhav Mishra, and offices linked to private companies connected with the investigation.

During the searches, the agency seized several incriminating documents and digital evidence, including storage drives, digital signatures, property-related papers, financial records, electronic devices, and other documents relevant to the investigation. The seized material is currently being examined and analyzed.

The case was transferred to the CBI following a request from the Haryana government, which had earlier been investigated by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The investigation relates to the alleged fraudulent diversion of nearly 657 crore belonging to eight Haryana government departments and two Chandigarh Administration departments through fake fixed deposits and fraudulent debit transactions. The funds were allegedly routed through shell companies.

So far, the CBI has filed a chargesheet against 17 accused in the Haryana case, including six officials from IDFC FIRST Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three Haryana government employees, two companies, and six private individuals.

The CBI has also taken over two separate cases related to the Union Territory of Chandigarh—one involving Chandigarh Smart City Limited/Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and another concerning the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST). Chargesheets have already been filed in both cases.

In the CSCL case, the CBI has chargesheeted five bankers, one Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, and one private individual. In the CREST case, the agency has filed chargesheets against five bankers, two CREST officials, four private individuals, and two companies.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH