The 100 crore cooperative scam in Haryana, CM Khattar orders audit from 1995

In an official statement released on last Friday, it was revealed that the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Haryana had exposed a significant fraud involving the integrated cooperative development project, exposing a "corruption racket" worth Rs 100 crore. According to the statement, 14 people—10 senior officers and 4 private citizens—have been detained for their alleged roles in the scam.

 “The ACB team, upon investigation, exposed a Rs 100-crore scam within the Integrated Cooperative Development Project” said the government spokesperson reading the official statement. He further stated that, “They misused government funds deposited in official accounts to purchase flats, land, and other assets, etc. These officials further attempted to cover their tracks by forging government documents and bank details”.

Notably, with an emphasis on the creation of cooperative societies and different programs for the development of rural and agricultural areas, Haryana's Cooperation Department oversees the Integrated Cooperative Development Project. On the question of arrests in the scam, the spokesperson said that, “A thorough investigation is underway. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the law in Karnal and Ambala Range (of the ACB). Six gazetted officers, four additional staff from ICDP Rewari, and four private individuals were apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau during their thorough investigation”.

Now, according to the latest reports, taking a big decision, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has issued orders to conduct a special audit of the scam in the state's cooperative department. The latest revelation is that this audit will be done from 1995. Many big names are expected to come out as the audit will cover the tenure of 5 chief ministers of Haryana which includes former CM Bhajan Lal, Bansi Lal, Om Prakash Chautala, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the incumbent Manohar Lal Khattar. As the assembly elections are scheduled for later year this year, the opposition was planning to take on the BJP using the cooperative scam but now ordering the audit from 1995, CM Khattar has raised the tensions in the opposition camp.