The CBI has conducted simultaneous raids on the houses and offices of top officials of the Employees’ Provident Fund in Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi on Friday in connection with a case registered against them on charges of overlooking irregularities in PF payments by Chaitanya Group of Institutions in 2006.
Sources said the CBI unit in Hyderabad had registered an FIR against five senior most officials of the EPF office working in Bangalore and Hyderabad. These officers had conducted raids at various locations of Chaitanya Group of Institutions in Andhra Pradesh in 2006 and found irregularities of PF deposits to the tune of Rs. 70 crore.
The records seized at that time indicated that provident fund for 4,500 employees, working out to Rs. 70 crore, was not paid. The officials had allegedly returned the incriminating records to the group and closed the investigation without recovering the money.
Later, the matter was investigated by Vigilance Wing of PF Department. But it also diluted the matter by concealing the financial irregularities involved and recommended minor penalty against the erring officers and no action against the group, it was disclosed. The CBI is also examining the possibility of involvement of officers of Vigilance Department of EPFO in New Delhi.
