CBI Files Chargesheet in Rs 75.34 Cr CREST Fund Siphoning

New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) The CBI on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in the case of alleged siphoning of Rs 75.34 crore of government funds from the accounts of Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technical Promotion Society (CREST) against officials of IDFC First Bank, CREST and private individuals.

In its chargesheet filed before a Chandigarh special court, the CBI has named 13 accused, including five IDFC First Bank officials, two officials of CREST (Chandigarh UT Administration), two shell companies and four private individuals, under offences of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

"The present case pertains to the misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs. 75.34 crore, siphoned off from bank accounts of CREST by IDFC First Bank officials in criminal connivance with public servants of CREST.


"The siphoned-off funds were then diverted in connivance with several private persons who have also benefitted from these funds," the CBI Spokesperson said.

More chargesheets will be filed, the agency said.

The central probe agency had registered three FIRs on the request of the governments of Chandigarh UT and Haryana related to alleged bilking of Rs 657 crore, they said.

"The CBI has already filed two chargesheets in Haryana's case against 17 accused persons and one chargesheet in the case pertaining to Chandigarh Smart City Project against seven accused persons and today, a chargesheet is filed in the CREST Chandigarh case against 13 accused," the official said.