Bihar halts teacher and police salaries amid audit fraud allegations

The Bihar government has temporarily suspended salary payments for education and police personnel following an audit report by the Accountant General (AG) that identified irregularities in salary disbursements. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav stated the decision was made to ensure public funds are used according to constitutional safeguards and established rules.

The investigation focuses on suspected fraud involving the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and the Comprehensive Financial Management System (CFMS). The audit reportedly uncovered inflated salary entries and the processing of fraudulent bills through collusion. Findings suggest approximately 56,000 employees may be linked to suspicious monthly payments, with some discrepancies involving amounts between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 9 lakh.

The Finance Department has ordered a detailed inquiry to identify officials responsible for any confirmed irregularities. Salary payments will be released once the investigation is complete and the discrepancies have been fully examined.