The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at six premises in connection with a large-scale misappropriation fraud allegedly involving IDFC First Bank and AU Finance Bank.

It is alleged that about ₹661 crore in eight departments of the Haryana government, besides the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and CREST Chandigarh, were siphoned off.

The search operations were carried out on Saturday in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and in and around Delhi. They included the residential premises of senior public servants of Haryana cadre, Vipam Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. and its director.

The agency alleged that during investigation evidence has surfaced suggesting that the public servants had colluded with bank officials and facilitated the opening of accounts, transfer of funds and subsequent diversion thereof.

“It is alleged that they have received undue advantages for their facilitation and inaction. Vipam Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Noida, received the crime proceeds...which was subsequently transferred into the director’s personnel account,” said the agency.

“Incriminating documents, digital devices, property documents and other relevant material were seized during the search operations,” it said.

The CBI initiated the probe after taking over one case from State Vigilance and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana, and two cases originally registered at the Economic Offences police station, Chandigarh.

The cases pertain to alleged criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of government funds, and related offences involving bank officials and public servants.

After completing the initial investigation, the CBI had earlier filed the first charge sheet detailing the role of public servants of two departments, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Ltd. And Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad.

“The charge sheet also explained the modus operandi adopted to fraudulently siphon off government funds parked with IDFC First Bank and AU Finance bank,” it said, adding that additional charge sheets would be filed soon.