Chandigarh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against Indian Forest Service officer Navneet Srivastava, then CEO of Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (Crest), a private consultancy firm and its director in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Rs 75.4 crore from Crest funds. The alleged diversion of funds was carried out through Crest accounts with IDFC First Bank, the agency said on Friday.According to the CBI, the accused have been chargesheeted for criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and use of forged documents as genuine under the BNS, besides offences relating to bribery, criminal misconduct and abetment under the Prevention of Corruption Act.The CBI alleged that Srivastava, while serving as Crest CEO, entered into a criminal conspiracy with the other accused and misappropriated society funds. The agency also alleged that he received illegal gratification and indulged in criminal misconduct in his capacity as a public servant.The consultancy firm, Vipam Consultancy Pvt Ltd, and its director, who is Srivastava’s wife, have been chargesheeted for allegedly abetting the offences and being part of the conspiracy. The CBI said the firm received Rs 95 lakh from the defrauded amount and allegedly used the money to acquire immovable property. Srivastava was earlier arrested by the CBI and remains in judicial custody. The agency had taken over the Crest case from Chandigarh Police. Before the latest chargesheet, CBI had filed chargesheets against 13 other accused in the case. The Crest case is linked to a larger banking fraud involving the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh.More scams being probedIn a separate case, govt funds amounting to around Rs 504 crore belonging to eight departments and organisations of the Haryana govt were allegedly siphoned off through forged and non-existent fixed deposits and fraudulent debit transactions. The CBI has so far chargesheeted 37 accused in the case. The agency has also taken over a third case involving Chandigarh Smart City and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, in which it has chargesheeted seven accused for allegedly defrauding the civic body of Rs 78 crore.
