₹13,000-Salary Contractual Govt Worker in Maharashtra Defrauds ₹21 Crore, Buys BMW, Diamond Glasses, and Luxury Apartment for Girlfriend
Pune Ranks Second as Maharashtra Reports 2.19 Lakh Financial Fraud Cases Worth Rs.38,000 Crore in 2024
Contract worker’s extravagant lifestyle exposes multi-crore fraud in government department.
A contractual government employee in Maharashtra, earning a modest salary of ₹13,000 per month, has been accused of defrauding the state of ₹21 crore. The accused, Harsh Kumar Kshirsagar, reportedly orchestrated the embezzlement with the help of accomplices, funding a lavish lifestyle that included luxury cars, diamond-studded glasses, and a 4 BHK apartment for his girlfriend.
The scam involved forging documents to activate internet banking for an account under the department’s sports complex at Indian Bank. Kshirsagar, along with his co-conspirators Yashoda Shetty and her husband BK Jeevan, used falsified documents and unauthorized transactions with forged cheques signed by the Deputy Sports Director to transfer funds to their accounts. The misappropriation went undetected for six months before the fraud came to light.
Kshirsagar’s extravagant purchases included a BMW car and bike, a luxurious 4 BHK apartment near the airport for his girlfriend, and diamond-studded glasses from a reputed jeweler. Another accomplice used part of the stolen funds to buy an SUV worth ₹35 lakh. The fraudulent activities were uncovered after colleagues noticed Kshirsagar’s sudden and extravagant lifestyle, prompting a review of departmental accounts by the Deputy Sports Director.
Kshirsagar is currently absconding, reportedly with the SUV, while authorities have intensified their investigation to locate him and uncover any additional misuse of funds.
