Chandigarh: CBI on Wednesday conducted searches at five locations in Chandigarh and Ludhiana in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) from accounts maintained with IDFC First Bank.The searches were carried out at homes and business establishments of suspected beneficiaries, including the premises of a former corporation accountant. CBI officers seized storage drives, digital signature devices, property-related documents and financial records, said the agency.The investigation forms part of a wider probe into the alleged fraud involving Rs 504 crore Haryana govt funds. CBI took over the investigation from Haryana State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau at the request of state govt.So far, the agency has filed chargesheets against 17 suspects in the Haryana case, including six officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, three Haryana govt officials, two companies, and six private individuals.CBI has also taken over two related cases from UT Chandigarh. One pertains to the alleged misappropriation of funds of CSCL and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, while the second involves Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST).In the CSCL case, CBI has filed a chargesheet against five bank officials, a CSCL official and a private individual. In the CREST case, the agency has charge-sheeted five bank officials, two CREST officials, four private individuals and two companies.
