Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): A major financial scam has surfaced in the 6th Battalion of the Special Armed Force (SAF) in Jabalpur, where over ₹3 crore was allegedly siphoned off through fraudulent Travel Allowance (TA) claims.
An internal audit has revealed that several personnel and employees of the SAF systematically generated fake travel bills and withdrew travel allowances worth up to 200 times more than their actual salaries.
Scam Running Since 2018-19, FIR Lodged Against 15 Accused
According to official sources, the scam has reportedly been operating since 2018-19, indicating a long-running and well-organized operation. Following the audit findings, a complaint has been registered at Ranjhi Police Station against 15 individuals, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), multiple constables, and one deceased constable.
Deceased Constable Named in FIR; Had Died by Suicide
The case has taken a dramatic turn as one of the key accused, constable Abhishek, had allegedly committed suicide earlier. Reports suggest he took the extreme step after his name surfaced during the investigation.
Investigators believe Abhishek, along with LDC clerk Satyam Sharma, played a central role in the fraud. Satyam Sharma is currently absconding, and police teams are searching for him.
Fake Travel Bills Showed Personnel on Outstation Duty
The investigation revealed that the accused repeatedly filed TA bills claiming they were on official duty outside the district, while in reality, they were present in Jabalpur.
The scam was not a one-time act but rather a systematic and organized manipulation of official records and verification procedures.
Documents Manipulated, OTP Accessed Internally
Authorities allege that during the verification process, black-and-white photographs were uploaded on the official portal, allowing manipulation of documents. It was also found that the OTP required for payment approvals was accessed internally, suggesting serious misuse of official systems.
Massive Payments to Individuals
The audit report highlights shocking figures:
- Constable Abhishek Jhariya allegedly received nearly ₹55 lakh through 582 TA bills, whereas his total salary and pending dues over seven years were only around ₹26 lakh.
- Another accused, Nitesh Kumar Patel, reportedly received ₹30.51 lakh as TA payments.
Commission-Based Fraud Allegations
The probe further revealed that absconding clerk Satyam Sharma allegedly received nearly 50% commission from the fraudulent payouts, indicating he may have played a key mastermind role in coordinating the scam.
Committee Formed, Bank Accounts Frozen
SAF Commandant Siddharth Chaudhary has constituted a special committee to investigate the matter. So far, statements of more than 20 personnel have been recorded, and over 20 bank accounts have been frozen to prevent further diversion of funds.
Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken once the investigation is complete and all those involved are brought to justice.
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