FIR filed against 15 SAF personnel in Jabalpur:Accused for depositing ₹3 crore of travel allowance into accounts; money exceeds official salaries and arrears

A major travel allowance (TA) scam has come to light in Jabalpur involving the 6th Battalion of the Special Armed Forces (SAF). Initially pegged at Rs 2 crore, the scam has now reportedly grown to around ₹3 crore. On Tuesday, Ranjhi police registered an FIR against 15 SAF personnel, including a deceased constable, and launched a probe into the matter. The accused are charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 318-4, 338, 336-3, 340-2, 316-5, and 61-2. The alleged mastermind, LDC Babu Satyam Sharma, has been absconding for a long time. Scam unfolded over years The irregularities reportedly date back to 2018–19. An initial inquiry revealed that Satyam Sharma and Constable Abhishek Jharia were involved in submitting fake TA bills, showing postings outside Jabalpur while the personnel were actually in the city. Sharma allegedly collected OTPs before payment and distributed part of the amount among himself and accomplices. By November 2025, the scam was discovered, revealing misappropriation of nearly Rs 3 crore. For instance, Abhishek Jharia’s bank account received Rs 55 lakh via 582 TA bills, despite his seven-year salary and arrears totalling only Rs 26 lakh—more than 200% of his official pay. Similarly, 12 other constables reportedly received ₹10 lakh each from TA claims alone. Suicide and Absconding Following suspension over the TA scam, Abhishek Jharia committed suicide by jumping in front of a train on November 12, 2025. Meanwhile, Satyam Sharma went missing and was later traced through his wedding invitation card in Chhindwara. Investigation details A three-member committee under SAF Commandant Siddharth Chaudhary recorded statements from over 20 accused personnel. Simultaneously, a six-member special team led by District Panchayat CEO Abhishek Gehlot was formed by the Collector. Over 20 SAF bank accounts were subsequently frozen. Investigators revealed that Satyam Sharma induced Abhishek to transfer funds by promising over 50% of the money and often withdrew cash to avoid detection. At the time of investigation, Sharma’s account had only Rs 2.6 lakh, despite his involvement in crores of rupees worth of fraudulent TA claims. Widespread impact The State Finance Intelligence Cell’s probe confirmed that 6th Battalion SAF employees received excessive TA, medical allowances, and FVC payments, far exceeding their official salaries. The incident has raised serious questions about oversight in government financial disbursements and internal controls within SAF.