Jharkhand CID Files Chargesheet in Rs.116-Crore JTDCL-Energy Scam, Kingpin Among Three Accused

Ranchi: The Crime Investigation Department Jharkhand has filed a chargesheet against three individuals in connection with a major ?116-crore embezzlement case linked to the JTDCL-Energy scam.

The accused include the alleged mastermind Aradhya Sengupta, also known as Arnav Ganguly, along with Sameer Kumar and Arun Kumar Pandey. According to investigators, the trio was involved in siphoning off government funds using carefully planned fraudulent methods.

The probe has so far uncovered misappropriation of over ?9 crore directly linked to these three accused. The fraud reportedly targeted institutions such as the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation Limited and state energy utilities.

Investigators revealed that the scam relied on sophisticated techniques, including the use of fake letterheads, forged signatures, and fabricated government orders. The accused allegedly created bank accounts with names closely resembling official government accounts, allowing them to divert funds without raising immediate suspicion.

Further irregularities were found in fixed deposit transactions. The accused are said to have manipulated bank quotations on paper to show inflated interest rates, influencing the selection process. Once a bank was chosen, funds meant for official deposits were instead routed into fake accounts under their control.

The chargesheet has been filed in Case No. 42/2024. Aradhya Sengupta has been in judicial custody since January 12, while the other two accused are currently out on bail.

Officials noted that the scam appears to have deeper roots, with possible involvement of intermediaries and individuals connected to government departments and banking channels. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have indicated that more arrests may follow as additional links in the network are uncovered.

With inputs from IANS