The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday night arrested four people, including Ribhav Rishi, manager of Zirakpur branch of mastermind AU Small Bank, in connection with the fraud of Rs 583 crore in various accounts of Haryana government in IDFC First Bank. SIT chief DSP Shukrapal confirmed the arrest of the accused. All four accused were given medical treatment at Panchkula Civil Hospital late in the night.
ACB has arrested Ribhav Rishi, resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, along with his friend Abhay Kumar, Chandigarh resident firm director Abhishek Singla and Swati Singla. According to sources, ACB was suspicious of these accused from the first day. After this, the ACB team was continuously busy collecting evidence by conducting raids at Mohali, Zirakpur and other places. After the arrest of the four accused, the ACB team is locating their associates posted in government departments of Haryana Government.
Made a fraud plan with a friend
Ribhav Rishi was earlier working as a manager in IDFC First Bank branch located in Chandigarh. After this he became a manager in AU Small Finance Bank. According to sources, he was well known to some officials of Haryana government. He along with his friend Abhay Kumar, a resident of Kharar, planned to embezzle government money.
Involved sister and brother-in-law, transferred money to bogus firm
Kharar resident Abhay has also been a bank employee. Abhay’s sister Swati Singla and her husband Abhishek Singla were also included in the fraud plan. A bogus firm named Swastik Desh Project was formed in the name of Abhay and Swati. The accused started embezzlement by transferring money from the accounts of Haryana Government through this firm.
Desire to become rich soon…Considering Harshad Mehta as his ideal
According to sources, ACB’s inquiry revealed that Ribhav and Abhay used to work in different banks for a long time to earn big money quickly. Both of them became friends during this affair. Both the accused consider Bombay Stock Exchange’s Big Bull Harshad Mehta as their idol.
CM said in the Assembly – all the money should return to the government
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini informed the Assembly that within 24 hours of detection of the fraud, IDFC First Bank has returned the entire amount to the state government along with interest. An amount of Rs 556 crore 15 lakh 29 thousand has been deposited by the bank in government accounts. This also includes interest of Rs 22 crore. He told the House, a high level committee has also been constituted under the leadership of Finance Secretary Arun Gupta which will investigate whose fault this happened. The committee will also give suggestions to ensure that this does not happen again in future. However, in the statement issued by the bank, it has been said that Rs 583 crore will be returned.
Investigation committee will decide the accountability of employees and officers
The Chief Minister told the House that the bank has informed that this incident was mainly related to the Chandigarh branch and it happened with the connivance of middle and lower class employees. Saini clarified that the government will work with the bank to ensure that no one involved in this episode, be it a government official or a bank employee, will be spared. The Chief Minister said that the high level committee formed under the chairmanship of the Finance Secretary will decide the accountability of the employees and officers. The Chief Minister said, the functioning of the Haryana Government has completely changed. Earlier only the files of scams were suppressed. I have many such files. Congress MLAs also created ruckus on this statement of CM.