By In the wake of the alleged ₹650 crore banking scam, the Haryana government has initiated a comprehensive review of departmental bank accounts to strengthen financial oversight and improve accountability. The Finance Department has directed all heads of departments to submit detailed records of every Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) bank account operated over the last five financial years.
The move comes as the government intensifies efforts to examine the handling of public funds after the scam exposed alleged financial irregularities involving multiple government departments. Officials have been instructed to provide the required information to the Finance Department within one week in both digital and hard-copy formats.
The alleged fraud, linked to IDFC First Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, has so far brought eight Haryana government departments under scrutiny. The investigation has already led to the arrest of nearly a dozen officials and employees, including three IAS officers, who are currently facing legal proceedings.
Following these developments, the state government has decided to conduct a wider review of departmental banking practices to identify any financial inconsistencies and strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms.
According to the Finance Department’s directions, every department must furnish details of DDO-operated bank accounts for each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The information sought includes the total number of bank accounts in operation at the end of each financial year, the total expenditure made through those accounts, and the closing balance as of March 31.
Departments have also been asked to classify accounts based on the utilisation of funds. Separate data must be provided for accounts where less than 50 percent of allocated funds were spent, accounts with expenditure between 50 and 99 percent, and those where the entire allocation was utilised.
Particular attention will be given to bank accounts that remained inactive throughout the financial year. For such accounts, departments have been instructed to submit detailed information, including the name and designation of the concerned DDO, the department, the bank’s name, account number, and the closing balance recorded at the end of each financial year.
Officials say the five-year review will enable the government to compare spending patterns, monitor fund utilisation, and identify accounts with unusual balances or prolonged inactivity. The exercise is expected to help authorities assess whether government funds were being managed in accordance with financial rules.
The Finance Department believes that compiling data from multiple financial years will provide a clearer picture of departmental financial practices and support efforts to strengthen transparency in the management of public money.
The review is also seen as part of the Haryana government’s broader initiative to tighten financial controls following the banking scam, with the objective of preventing similar irregularities and improving accountability across all government departments.
