New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is all set to register seven fresh FIRs as part of its investigation into the multi-crore Srijan scam in Bihar. Fresh cases, sources said, will be registered by the ED on the basis of CBI’s FIRs.
According to sources the fresh cases will be part of the agency’s probe into the multi-crore Srijan scam in Bihar in which government funds worth several crores were allegedly diverted to the accounts of a non-government organisation. The ED will register cases under the stringent provisions of the money laundering act to probe the fresh charges by the end of this week.
Sources further said cases will be registered against Bhagalpur based-NGO Mahila Vikas Samiti and state government officials for allegedly transferring funds to the accounts of the non-government organisation. The CBI has already registered cases against Srijan Mahila Vikas Samiti, its director Manorma Devi (now deceased) and certain former as well as serving officials of nationalised banks to probe the scam. Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar had recommended the CBI to probe into the Srijan scam after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav accused him of “murdering democracy” in Bihar.
The RJD chief has been on the offensive against Mr Kumar and deputy chief minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Modi over the Srijan scam. Srijan, an NGO, is accused of embezzling crores of money from different accounts of district administration with the alleged connivance of government officials and bank staff on the pretext of several welfare schemes. Investigations by other agencies have revealed the involvement of nationalised banks, government officials and employees in the fraudulent withdrawal of government funds in three districts of Bhagalpur, Banka and
Saharsa, they said. The Bihar Police had earlier issued a lookout notice against the secretary of ‘Srijan’, Priya Kumar and her husband for allegedly swindling over Rs 1000 crore of government money in Bhagalpur. Priya Kumar is the daughter-in-law of late Manorama Devi.
