The shocking embezzlement of Rs 21.59 crore by Harshkumar Kshirsagar, a contractual employee at the Divisional Sports Complex, has sent shockwaves across the state. The city police, while investigating the crime, have uncovered startling new details, revealing that Harshkumar, along with his parents and maternal uncle, meticulously planned the fraudulent scheme to siphon off funds from the sports department.
The plot began when Harshkumar, using his position as a computer operator, sent a forged letter to a bank, requesting the release of funds in his name under a fake letterhead of the department. The scam was carried out through a fraudulent email ID that mimicked official communication from the department. By the time discrepancies were noticed during an audit in November, the scam had already taken place. Harshkumar, fearing that his crime would soon be discovered, attempted to flee, applying for a passport for his father.
However, the city’s police took swift action and arrested Harshkumar at Nizamabad Railway Station on Tuesday, as he tried to escape to Nainital. His parents, Anil and Manisha Kshirsagar, were apprehended in Murdeshwar, Karnataka, and Harshkumar’s maternal uncle, Hitesh Ananda Shardul, was also arrested in Malegaon, Nashik. They were all remanded into police custody until January 5.
The investigation revealed that not only did Harshkumar transfer large sums of the embezzled money to his own bank account, but he also funneled money to his parents, accomplices, girlfriend, and maternal uncle.
Police have already arrested Harshkumar’s girlfriend and two other accomplices, as they continue to probe the extent of the scam. Further arrests and investigations are ongoing as the authorities work to unravel the full scope of this multi-crore embezzlement.
