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Regarding need for inquiry into alleged irregularities in
financial transactions in Chandigarh Municipal
Corporation-Laid
SHRI MANISH TEWARI (CHANDIGARH): I wish to draw the
attention of the Government to a serious case of financial
irregularity in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation concerning the
transfer of funds from Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL). As
per recent reports, an internal inquiry has revealed discrepancies
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of approximately 20?25 crore in the transfer of CSCL funds to the
Municipal Corporation. Alarmingly, three fraudulent debit entries
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amounting to over 8 crore have also been detected in the
Corporation?s accounts after the transfer. The inquiry has further
indicated the possibility of fraudulent transactions prior to the
closure of CSCL, including the use of fake fixed deposit receipts
and forged bank statements. These findings point towards serious
lapses in financial oversight, internal controls, and verification
mechanisms within both the banking channel and the Municipal
Corporation. This issue raises grave concerns regarding the safety
of public funds, accountability of officials, and the robustness of
financial governance in urban local bodies. I urge Government to
ensure a time-bound, independent forensic audit of all transactions;
fix accountability of officials and institutions involved; and put in
place stronger safeguards, including technology-enabled
verification and audit systems, to prevent recurrence. The matter
involves public money and warrants urgent attention and corrective
action.