The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested IAS officer Pardeep Kumar on Tuesday, the same day he was set to retire from service. Kumar, who served as the Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), is the third IAS officer to be arrested in the Rs 657-crore Haryana bank scam.
According to the CBI, Kumar's actions as Member Secretary had a direct connection to the fraud. The agency stated that he personally handled all investment-related work and sent far more funds to IDFC First Bank for fixed deposits than the allowed limits.
How the scam was carried out
The HSPCB maintained its account at the Sector-32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh. The CBI investigation found that Kumar was directly involved in moving large sums of money into fixed deposits at the bank, exceeding the prescribed limits.
According to The Tribune, the CBI said, "He himself handled the entire investment-related work at his level. Funds for fixed deposits were sent to IDFC First Bank far in excess of the prescribed limits."
Third IAS officer arrested in the case
Before Kumar's arrest, the CBI had already arrested two other IAS officers — Ram Kumar Singh and Pankaj Agarwal — in connection with the same scam. The arrests show the agency's widening investigation into the fraud that has shaken the state's bureaucracy.
Reports from The Print had earlier indicated that Kumar was under the scanner and was believed to be on the run as the CBI closed in on him. His arrest on the day of his retirement marks a dramatic end to his career.
Our Take: A strong message against corruption
The arrest of Pardeep Kumar on his last day of service sends a clear message — no one is above the law, not even senior bureaucrats on the verge of retirement. The CBI's action shows that the investigation into the Rs 657-crore scam is moving swiftly and targeting those who were directly responsible.
What stands out is the CBI's specific allegation that Kumar personally handled the investment work and exceeded limits. This suggests a deliberate pattern of misuse of power rather than a simple oversight. The fact that three IAS officers have now been arrested indicates the scale of the fraud and the level of coordination involved.
For the public, this case highlights the need for stronger oversight of how government bodies handle public funds. When officials can move large sums into private banks without proper checks, the system fails. The CBI's crackdown is a step in the right direction, but it also raises questions about how such a large fraud went unnoticed for so long.
