Jharkhand Government Shielding Officials in ?10,000-Crore Treasury Scam, CID Used to Whitewash Corruption: BJP's Pratul Shahdeo

Ranchi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Chief Spokesperson *Pratul Shahdeo* on Saturday accused the Jharkhand Government of attempting to shield senior officials allegedly involved in the multi-thousand-crore Treasury Scam and using the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to protect those responsible.

Addressing a press conference, Shahdeo alleged that the State Finance Minister had himself admitted that there was no proper account of nearly *?10,000 crore* of government funds over the past few years. He claimed that the BJP had consistently maintained that the government was trying to protect its "favoured officers" instead of ensuring an impartial investigation.

Questioning the composition of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Shahdeo alleged that officers who had served as Superintendents of Police in districts where the alleged scam took place had been included in the probe. He claimed that two members of the SIT had earlier served as SPs in Hazaribagh and Bokaro, districts where chargesheets related to the Treasury Scam had already been filed, making it difficult to expect an unbiased investigation.

He further alleged that the government was targeting only lower-level employees while shielding senior officials. Drawing parallels with the Fodder Scam, Shahdeo said that courts had recognised the role of Treasury officials in that case, leading to their conviction by CBI courts, with the verdicts subsequently upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Referring to the *Jharkhand Financial Rules* and the *Jharkhand Treasury Code, 2016*, Shahdeo said the legal provisions clearly define the responsibilities of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and Treasury officials in the verification and disbursement of government funds. He cited Sections 114, 115, 116, 305, 305A and 306 of the Financial Rules, along with Appendices 3, 18 and 19 of the Treasury Code, stating that officials are required to verify bills, supporting documents and signatures before authorising payments and conduct further scrutiny wherever necessary.

Despite these statutory responsibilities, Shahdeo alleged that the CID had given a clean chit to all concerned DDOs and Treasury officials in its chargesheet. He claimed that in the Chaibasa Treasury Scam, the investigating agency had named only constables while excluding the officials responsible for authorising payments.

"The CID has become the government's agency of choice whenever a major scam has to be buried or whitewashed. Whenever the government wants to put an investigation into cold storage, it hands the case over to the CID," Shahdeo alleged.

He also questioned the government's handling of the special audit recommended by the Principal Accountant General (PAG). According to Shahdeo, after the state government sought a special audit, the Principal Accountant General wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department on *May 11, 2026, seeking **87 categories of documents*. However, he alleged that despite more than two months having passed, the government had failed to provide the required records.

Shahdeo further claimed that the SIT constituted under the leadership of the Excise Secretary had also not submitted its investigation report.

Accusing the government of trying to suppress the case, Shahdeo said attempts to cover up the Fodder Scam had ultimately failed, resulting in convictions in multiple cases. "The present government is repeating the same mistake by trying to bury the Treasury Scam instead of ensuring accountability," he said.

BJP State Co-Media In-charge *Ajay Rai* was also present at the press conference.