The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed its first chargesheet in the alleged Rs 75.34-crore fund diversion case involving the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST), naming 13 accused, including former CREST officials, IDFC First bank employees, private individuals, and shell entities.

The chargesheet was submitted before the Special CBI Court in Chandigarh. According to the agency, all 13 accused are currently in judicial custody.

Among those named are former CREST Project Director Sukhwinder Singh Abrol and accountant Sahil Kukkar. The accused bank officials include Ribhav Rishi (Branch Manager), Abhay Kumar (Relationship Manager), Seema Dhiman (Authorizer), Anuj Kaushal (Maker), and Priyanka Bhatoa (Checker). Private individuals named in the chargesheet are Vikram Wadhwa, Swati Singla, Abhishek Singla, and Ankur Sharma.

The accused have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the CBI, government funds amounting to ₹75.34 crore were allegedly siphoned from CREST accounts through unauthorized transactions supported by forged documents. Investigators allege that certain IDFC First bank officials conspired with CREST functionaries to facilitate the diversion of funds, which were subsequently routed through shell entities and private beneficiaries.

The agency further alleged that part of the diverted money was invested in real estate and other assets. Sources said Abrol is suspected of directing transfers from CREST accounts to linked entities, while Kukkar allegedly executed financial transactions in exchange for monetary benefits.

The case was originally registered by the Economic Offences Wing of Chandigarh police before being transferred to the CBI, which re-registered the FIR on May 4 after receiving approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The CREST investigation is one of three major financial irregularity probes currently being handled by the CBI after taking over cases from Haryana and Chandigarh agencies. The others relate to alleged irregularities in eight Haryana government departments and the Chandigarh Smart City project.

The agency noted that it has already filed two chargesheets against 17 accused in the Haryana case and one chargesheet against seven accused in the Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) case. In the CSCL matter, filed on June 12, former IDFC First Bank branch manager Ribhav Rishi, former CSCL Chief Finance Officer Nalini Malik, and real estate businessman Vikram Wadhwa were among those chargesheeted.

The CBI said further investigation in the CREST case is underway, and additional chargesheets may be filed as the probe progresses.