Bihar CM Nitish Kumar orders CBI investigation into Srijan scam

Patna, August 17

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to inquire into Rs 1,000 crore Srijan scam in which government funds were allegedly transferred to private accounts — including that of an NGO, Srijan Mahila Sahyog Samiti in Bihar’s district Bhagalpur — between 2005 and 2013 when BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi was finance minister of the state.

The development comes amid mounting pressure from the Opposition to have the scam investigated by the agency. Days after he lost his position of deputy chief minister, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav demanded a CBI investigation into the scam in which he claimed senior BJP leaders such as MP Ashwani Kumar Choubey, Manoj Tiwari and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain were also involved.

A Special Investigation Team inquiring into the case said crores were diverted from the bank accounts of different departments, including Mukhyamantri Shahari Vikas Yojna in Bhagalpur district, with the help of NGO Srijan Sahayog Mahila Vikas Samiti.

So far, eight people have been arrested, including Prem Kumar, an aide of the Bhagalpur District Magistrate, in connection with the scam.

SIT officials said an FIR was lodged against board members of the NGO and officials of Indian Bank in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 10.26 crore fund of the Mukhyamantri Shahari Vikas Yojana. 

Two more FIRs were lodged in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of funds of the Land Acquisition Department. Agencies