In a major breakthrough in the ₹5 crore fraud under Goa’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), investigators are now examining the role of a nationalised bank that manages the scheme’s official account. Although a cheque book was issued to the SSA, it was never used—raising red flags, as all payments were made exclusively through direct bank transfers. Given the high-value nature of the transactions and the multiple security layers typically in place, officials suspect possible insider involvement within the bank.
The case took a new turn with the arrest of a garment trader from West Bengal, into whose personal account nearly ₹2 crore of the misappropriated funds was transferred. The accused claims that his account was misused without his full knowledge and has cited financial distress since the COVID-19 pandemic. The fraud was initially detected when an alert staff member at a private bank in West Bengal flagged suspicious cheque clearances and unusually large deposits into personal accounts.
Authorities believe the fraudsters may have gained unauthorised access to sensitive account information and possibly forged signatures to facilitate the transfers. The possibility of collusion with bank personnel is under active investigation, and no one has been cleared of suspicion so far. The probe is ongoing, with focus on both SSA and bank staff as officials work to trace the money trail and bring those responsible to justice.