As the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) tightens its grip on the high-profile IDFC-AU Small Finance Bank scam, another Haryana IAS officer under the scanner has proceeded on long leave, adding to the growing unease within the state bureaucracy.
Senior IAS officer D.K. Behera, a 2007-batch officer currently serving as Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has gone on leave until August 28, officially citing house shifting as the reason.
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Leave Amid Intensifying Probe
According to official sources, Behera, who is currently residing in Sector 7, Panchkula, has recently been allotted a larger government residence in the same sector and has sought leave to oversee the relocation process.
However, the timing of the leave has attracted attention, as it comes amid an escalating CBI probe into the multi-crore IDFC-AU Small Finance Bank scam.
The case has already triggered major administrative action and criminal proceedings.
Panic Among Accused Officers
The latest development follows the arrest of former Panchkula Municipal Corporation Commissioner and IAS officer R.K. Singh, whose detention has reportedly caused concern among other officers named in the scam.
Sources indicate that officials under investigation are exploring legal and administrative options as the probe widens.
So far, the CBI has filed charge sheets against 17 accused in connection with the scam.
Allegations of Forged Signatures and Financial Irregularities
Before the CBI probe, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation had reportedly uncovered that several cheques and debit notes linked to the scam were processed using forged signatures of D.K. Behera.
Officials said these transactions allegedly continued even after Behera had been transferred out of the concerned department and had demitted office on October 28, 2025.
This has raised serious questions about procedural lapses and possible misuse of official authorisations.
CBI Gets Sanction for Questioning
Sources suggest that the CBI has secured the required sanction under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to question Behera in connection with the case.
This procedural approval is considered a crucial step in expanding the investigation into the role of serving bureaucrats.
Apart from the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating the financial trail linked to the alleged scam.
Pressure Mounts in High-Profile Banking Scam
The IDFC-AU Small Finance Bank scam has emerged as one of Haryana’s most closely watched financial fraud investigations, with implications stretching into senior administrative circles.
With arrests already made, more interrogations expected and multiple agencies involved, the coming weeks could prove critical in determining the extent of bureaucratic and financial accountability in the case.
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