CBI charge sheet names 13 in ₹75.34 crore IDFC First Bank fraud case
Synopsis
The CBI has now charged 37 individuals across three interconnected IDFC First Bank fraud cases — the latest being a ₹75.34 crore siphoning from a Chandigarh renewable energy society involving bank insiders and government officials acting in tandem. The pattern of collusion across departments and cities suggests this is far from over.
Key Takeaways
The CBI filed a charge sheet on 16 June against 13 accused in a ₹75.34 crore bank fraud case before a Special Court in Chandigarh .
The accused include 5 IDFC First Bank officials , 2 CREST public servants , 2 shell entities , and 4 private individuals .
Charges include criminal conspiracy , cheating , forgery , criminal breach of trust , and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 .
All 13 accused are currently under judicial custody .
Across three related IDFC Bank fraud cases, the CBI has now filed 4 charge sheets naming a combined 37 accused .
The CBI has stated that further charge sheets may be filed as the investigation continues.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday, 16 June filed a charge sheet before a Special Court in Chandigarh against 13 accused in connection with the misappropriation of ₹75.34 crore from the account of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technical Promotion Society (CREST). The accused include five officials of IDFC First Bank, two public servants from CREST under the Chandigarh UT Administration, two shell entities, and four private individuals.
Charges Filed
According to the CBI, the accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. All 13 accused are currently under judicial custody, the agency confirmed.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
The CBI stated that government funds worth ₹75.34 crore were siphoned from CREST's bank accounts by IDFC First Bank officials acting in criminal connivance with public servants of the Society. The diverted funds were subsequently channelled through several private individuals who allegedly benefited from the proceeds, according to the agency's statement.
Part of a Wider IDFC Bank Fraud Probe
The CREST case is one of three interlinked matters the CBI has taken over. The agency had earlier assumed charge of a case from the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana, relating to eight departments of the Haryana government, and two cases from the Economic Offences Police Station, Chandigarh — covering Chandigarh Smart City Ltd. and CREST.
In the Haryana-related matter, the CBI has already filed two charge sheets naming 17 accused on charges of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. A separate charge sheet in the Chandigarh Smart City Project case named seven accused. Counting Tuesday's filing, the agency has now charged a combined 37 individuals and entities across the three cases.
Investigation Ongoing
The CBI has indicated that the probe into the broader IDFC First Bank fraud is still active and that additional charge sheets may be filed as the investigation progresses. The agency's statement noted that the scale and inter-departmental nature of the alleged fraud — spanning a renewable energy society, a smart city project, and multiple Haryana government departments — points to a systemic pattern of collusion between bank insiders and public officials.
With all accused currently in judicial custody and further filings possible, the case is expected to remain under close scrutiny in the Special Court in the months ahead.
Point of View
A smart city project, and eight Haryana government departments simultaneously raises serious questions about internal audit failures at both IDFC First Bank and the respective government bodies. The CBI's own caveat — that more charge sheets may follow — suggests the full scale of the fraud is still being mapped. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural vulnerability: government bodies parking large funds in private-sector bank accounts without adequate oversight mechanisms, a gap that no charge sheet alone will close.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBI charge sheet filed in the Chandigarh CREST fraud case?
The CBI filed a charge sheet on 16 June before a Special Court in Chandigarh against 13 accused — including five IDFC First Bank officials and two public servants — for allegedly misappropriating ₹75.34 crore from the account of CREST, a Chandigarh UT government society. Charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Who are the accused named in the CBI charge sheet?
The 13 accused include five IDFC First Bank officials, two public servants from CREST under the Chandigarh UT Administration, two shell entities, and four private individuals. All 13 are currently under judicial custody.
How was the ₹75.34 crore fraud allegedly carried out?
According to the CBI, IDFC First Bank officials allegedly siphoned funds from CREST's bank accounts in criminal connivance with public servants of the Society. The diverted money was then channelled through private individuals who reportedly benefited from the proceeds.
How does this case relate to other IDFC First Bank fraud cases?
The CREST case is one of three interlinked matters under CBI investigation. The agency has also filed two charge sheets in a Haryana government-related case naming 17 accused, and one charge sheet in the Chandigarh Smart City Project case naming seven accused — bringing the total to 37 individuals charged across all three cases.
Will the CBI file more charge sheets in the IDFC Bank fraud cases?
Yes, the CBI has stated that the investigation is ongoing and that further charge sheets may be filed if warranted. The agency's probe spans multiple government departments and entities across Chandigarh and Haryana.
