CBI to quiz data entry operator for 2 days in cheating case

Special Judge Talwant Singh sent accused Prashant Kumar Jha, who was working in the CBI's pay and account office and his associates Pawan Mishra, Amit Ranjan Mishra and Amol Kumar Ray to the CBI custody till tomorrow after the agency said they are required for interrogation.

The court also remanded four others -- Nand Lal Ram, Jolen Khess, Mahender Khukhri and Jitender Verma -- to judicial custody till tomorrow. They were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the case.

While seeking extension of the police custody for the four accused, the CBI told the court that they were required to be confronted with each other to ascertain the trail of misappropriated amount.

The agency alleged during investigation, they have recovered various cheques worth over Rs 1.5 crore, issued illegally in the name of Jha and others.

It had earlier told the court that most of the persons, in whose names the money was transferred, were natives of Bihar and some "forged cheques" were also deposited there.

Jha, the key accused in the case, was arrested by the CBI on August 24 on the allegation that he, being the data entry operator, had embezzled huge money in connivance with others.

The accused have been booked under various sections of the IPC including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and other provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case was registered on a complaint by Pay and Accounts Officer (PAO), which works under the Finance Ministry and manages accounts of the CBI.

In the complaint, the PAO alleged that Jha, after hacking into accounts, got some cheques issued in his name and others and encashed it.

The complainant alleged the fraud was detected in the accounts of CBI related to fiscal 2011-12 and 2012-13.