The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at multiple locations in Chandigarh and Ludhiana in connection with the case involving misappropriation of funds from IDFC First Bank accounts of Chandigarh Smart City Ltd. (CSCL) and Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh.

The searches were conducted at five locations, including residential premises, business establishments of suspected beneficiaries of the defrauded funds belonging to Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and Chandigarh Smart City Limited, public servant Anubhav Mishra of CSCL and private entities connected with the investigation.

During the searches, various incriminating documents and articles were recovered and seized. These include digital evidence like storage drives, digital signatures, property related documents, financial records, multiple electronic devices and other documents relevant to the investigation.

The seized documents and electronic records are being examined and analysed as part of the ongoing investigation.

It may be recalled that the CBI had taken over the investigation from the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana, at the request of the state government. The government funds amounting to approximately Rs 657 crore belonging to eight departments of the Government of Haryana and two of Chandigarh Administration were allegedly siphoned off through forged/non-existent Fixed Deposits and fraudulent debit transactions and subsequently route through shell entities.

So far, the CBI has filed charge sheets against 17 accused in the Haryana case, including six bank officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three public servants of the Government of Haryana, two companies and six private individuals.

The CBI has also taken over two related cases from the Union Territory of Chandigarh — one pertaining to Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL)/Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and another relating to Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST). Charge sheets have already been filed in both cases. In the CSCL case, the CBI has charge-sheeted five bankers, one CSCL official and one private individual. In the CREST case, charge sheets have been filed against five bankers, two CREST officials, four private individuals and two companies.