Allegations of Corruption in Gurugram Cooperative Office; SIT Formed to Probe ₹30 Crore Abhinav CGHS Scam
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana – Pawan Kumar Bansal
Serious allegations of corruption have surfaced against the office of the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Gurugram, which has been accused of shielding individuals allegedly involved in embezzling funds from a housing society despite earlier findings against them by a former Assistant Registrar.
Following repeated exposure of the issue through Gustakhi Maaf posts and a petition raised during the Chief Minister’s grievance redressal camp, the Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation), Sanjeev Kaushal, has now constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.
A Decade-Long Battle by a Whistleblower
According to whistleblower Nitin Bhatia, a resident of Sector 9 Gurugram, the alleged irregularities relate to the Abhinav CGHS, where he claims nearly ₹30 crore of society funds have been siphoned off over the years.
Bhatia has been actively pursuing the issue since 2016, repeatedly writing to cooperative department officials and senior government authorities. His complaints were addressed to several officials, including ACS Cooperation Sanjeev Kaushal, former ACS T V S N Prasad, Vandru, former Cooperative Minister Banwari Lal, and senior leader Arvind Sharma.
Alleged Financial Irregularities
According to the whistleblower, the Abhinav CGHS project was constructed for around ₹12 crore, yet members collectively paid more than ₹27 crore, along with an additional ₹12 crore as premiums. Despite this, the society reportedly still carries liabilities of over ₹9 crore, which Bhatia claims were fabricated.
He further alleges that the society has not been audited since 2005, leaving members vulnerable to financial exploitation. According to him, the alleged racket involves a nexus between certain auditors, cooperative department officials, and past and present members of the society’s management committee.
Harassment and Pressure on the Whistleblower
Bhatia claims that after he began exposing the irregularities, he faced harassment from society management members. He alleges that electricity and common services to his flat were disconnected and that he was offered ₹3 lakh to withdraw an Income Tax and money laundering complaint related to the case.
The Income Tax and alleged money laundering aspects of the case were earlier highlighted in reports published by Gustakhi Maaf.
Complaint to CM Window and Inquiry Findings
On 29 August 2024, Bhatia filed a complaint through the Chief Minister’s grievance portal, referencing complaint number CMOFF/N/2024/091577. Following this, the then Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Ritender, appointed an Inspector-II from the cooperative department to conduct an inquiry.
In March 2025, the investigating officer reportedly submitted a report indicating a nexus between certain officials and members of the society management in siphoning off funds. The report recommended that the matter be referred to the Haryana Anti Corruption Bureau for further criminal investigation.
SIT Constituted After Long Struggle
After more than a decade of sustained efforts by the whistleblower, the Additional Chief Secretary (Cooperation) has now formed a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) with clear and strict directions. The committee has been tasked with identifying those responsible for the alleged financial crime and submitting actionable recommendations to the government.
Hope for Transparent Action
Citizens across Haryana have often raised concerns about corruption within cooperative societies. Observers now hope that the newly constituted SIT will conduct a fair and transparent investigation and bring the truth to light, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.