The State Finance Intelligence Cell (SFIC) detected the irregularities after discovering that many of the accused, despite having served only five to seven years, had amassed disproportionate deposits. Constable Abhishek Jharia emerged as the biggest beneficiary, receiving ₹55 lakh through TA bills alone—more than double his cumulative salary over the same period.
According to officials, TA, medical and FVC bills were manipulated within the Raanjhi-based battalion to generate excess payments. Salary data reviewed by investigators show that new SAF recruits earn ₹23,000–25,000 per month, rising to about ₹30,000 after five years. Yet several personnel received TA payouts nearly 200 times their salaries.
Records show Jharia filed 582 TA bills since 2018–19, leading to payments far exceeding legitimate entitlements. Another constable, Nitesh Kumar Patel, allegedly claimed ₹30.51 lakh through 335 TA bills, surpassing his total salary and arrears of ₹24.67 lakh.
SAF Commandant Siddharth Chouhdary constituted a three-member committee that examined over 20 personnel. The panel found that clerk Satyam Sharma processed and diverted more than half of the fraudulent payments to Jharia, often withdrawing cash himself to avoid detection. Sharma had ₹2.6 lakh in his account when questioned.
Following the revelations, Commandant Chouhdary suspended both Sharma and Jharia. The Jabalpur Collector, acting on a treasury department alert, formed a separate six-member inquiry team led by district Panchayat CEO Abhishek Gehlot. More than 20 bank accounts have been frozen pending verification.
The case has taken a grim turn: Jharia attempted suicide on November 12, while Sharma disappeared and resurfaced only through a wedding card indicating his marriage on November 22. Departmental action against him is expected for going absent without permission as the investigation continues.
