A contractual Maharashtra government employee with a salary of ₹13,000 managed to defraud of crores the department he worked for and was caught after getting attention for his luxury car, gifting a 4 BHK flat to his girlfriend and commissioning diamond-studded glasses, reports claimed.
Harsh Kumar Kshirsagar had allegedly defrauded the government of over ₹21 crore along with other acquaintances, News18 reported, which added that his colleagues were puzzled noticing his extravagant lifestyle while working for a salary of ₹13,000.
Kshirsagar, with the help of his acquaintances, allegedly swindled the amount from the departmental sports complex administration of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar through Internet banking.
One of the accused purchased a BMW car, a bike from the same brand, and a 4 BHK flat opposite the airport for his girlfriend, the report said, adding that he had even commissioned diamond-studded glasses from a renowned city jeweller.
What probe revealed
The investigation also revealed that the husband of another female contract worker involved in the scheme had purchased an SUV worth ₹35 lakhs. Preliminary findings cited in the report indicate that the prime accused, Harsh Kumar Anil Kshirsagar, has absconded with the SUV.
The accused carried out the by opening an account in the name of the sports complex at the Indian Bank, intended for government funds.
Transactions required cheques signed by the deputy sports director, however, Harsh Kumar Kshirsagar along with the other two contract employees Yashoda Shetty and her husband BK Jeevan allegedly fabricated documents to provide the bank.
The accused allegedly transferred funds to their accounts after activating Internet banking facilities using the forged documents. The fraudulent activities went on for six months before the departmental deputy director detected them.
A statement by the police is awaited in the matter.
