Patna, Sep 6: The Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted raids at the residence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi's sister Rekha in Patna in connection with the Srijan scam case. The scam involves an alleged transfer of government funds worth about Rs 1,000 crore to the accounts of a non-government organisation. According to a tweet by ANI, the police team is also present to take clues from the raid.

The multi-crore Srijan scam relates to the fraudulent transfer of government money into the account of a 'Srijan' over a period of time. In August, unidentified officers of Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank and the ‘Samiti’ have been listed as accused in the FIRs registered for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery among others.

Reports inform that the corruption scandal has engulfed Bihar and plunged its government in crisis. Chief minister Nitish Kumar and his new ally, the BJP, is fighting charges from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Reports inform that the scam revolves around the Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti, an NGO based in Bhagalpur district of Bihar. The NGO was engaged in imparting vocational training to women. The scam involves Government funds to the tune of about Rs. 1,000 crore INR being illegally diverted in the period 2004 and 2014 to this NGO’s account in Bhagalpur.

An initial probe allegedly that the NGO procured chequebooks from banks and forged the signature of the district magistrate to transfer government funds to its account. According to reports, the money demarcated for various welfare schemes has been literally pilfered in connivance with government officials, bank employees and Srijan’s own staff. The probe had also pointed to the involvement of nationalised banks and government officials in the fraudulent withdrawal of funds in three districts of Bhagalpur, Banka and Saharsa.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2018 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).