A computer operator has allegedly misappropriated ₹21.59 crore from an account of a government-run sports complex in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, officials said on Monday (December 30, 2024).
The main accused, Harshkumar Kshirsagar, a contractual computer operator at the Divisional Sports Complex office who is currently absconding, committed the offence over 11 months, an official from Jawaharnagar police station said.
“Police have arrested a woman friend of the accused and were enquiring with her in connection with the case,” he said.
While the probe was on into the case, the absconding accused sent a letter by post to the Jawaharnagar police on December 26, alleging some senior office-bearers at the facility pressured him for the misappropriation of funds.
According to the police official, Mr. Kshirsagar allegedly changed the e-mail address of the sports complex committee registered with a bank and got the facility’s account linked to another e-mail ID to which he had access.
The detailed bank statements of the account were then sent to his new e-mail address, the official said.
The accused allegedly diverted ₹21.59 crore from the sports facility’s bank account to another account and then withdrew the money, he said.
“Based on a complaint by a representative of the sports complex, the Jawaharnagar police on December 22 registered a case against Mr. Kshirsagar and two others under relevant legal provisions,” the official said.
Even as efforts were underway to apprehend Mr. Kshirsagar, he sent a seven-page letter to the Jawaharnagar police station in-charge last week, claiming some seniors at the sports complex office pressured him to withdraw its fund.
He alleged that a senior office-bearer at the sports complex threatened him showing a gun, gave him a letter to get the facility’s account number changed, chose the properties bought with the withdrawn amount and also used a car purchased for ₹1.35 crore by the accused.
The accused also claimed in his letter that he was mentally harassed when he refused to indulge in the fund transfer and withdrawal.
Published – December 30, 2024 01:36 pm IST
